How do we continue to minister when we are in pain ourselves, maybe from a loss or a challenging time or when hurt ? In Mt 14:12 Jesus receives the news that his family member John has been executed. This is a triple blow: a friend, a great supporter of him and a sign for Jesus of what happens to those who preach the Gospel. He could be next! So how did he react?
1.Jesus didn’t become depressed
Jesus wept when Lazarus, his great friend, died. Jesus experienced all the human emotions and the death of John would have hit him. But the Bible doesn’t say that he became depressed or discouraged because he trusted in the will of His Father. He knew that all things work for good for those that love God.
But Jesus still needs some time on his own to pray and reflect on this death. So he escapes from the crowds to pray (13):
“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.”
2.Jesus didn’t close to the needs of others
Jesus tries to escape by boat to pray but instead the people followed him and when he lands he encounters the needy. Look at Jesus’ amazing response:
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.“
(Mt 14:14)
He had compassion on them. So he responds by healing the sick, ministering to the needy, feeding the 5000 and teaching them!
Jesus doesn’t ignore the needs of others. He is not selfish but shows great love for others despite his own needs. We too must not allow personal pain to cloud us to the needs of those that God puts in front of us. God’s grace is sufficient. With God’s help we can still minister even when in pain.
3.Jesus made space afterwards to pray alone
But after ministering to the great crowd he again separates from the disciples to pray alone on the mountain (14:23):
“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone“
He simply postpones his prayer time. His ministry time is not instead of his prayer time!
So when we are in pain, we cannot also just throw ourselves into ministry to avoid the pain. We must separate time to receive from God, his comfort and love.