How Jesus’ active life was fed by solitude

Jesus' ministry was bolstered by his intense prayer life.

Jesus was a popular spiritual figure of his time, and many people wanted his attention.

If he wanted to, Jesus could have spent every waking hour preaching the Gospel and teaching his disciples about the faith.

However, Jesus didn’t always spend his time in public ministry. He would only engage in public discourse after he spent time away in solitude.

This is clear in the 40 days he spent in prayer in the desert, but it didn’t end there.

In fact, it became a problem for his disciples, who were often looking for Jesus, not knowing where he was.

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. (Matthew 14:22-23)
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him. (Luke 4:42)
In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

Jesus’ example reminds us that no matter how many good and wholesome activities we are engaged in, they must be firmly rooted in a life of prayer.

If we want to truly imitate Jesus’ life and preach his Gospel, we must make prayer a priority.