Cave

Mark 9:30-32 (The Message)

Leaving there, they went through Galilee.

He didn't want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples.

He told them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive."

They didn't know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.

It makes me feel good to know that Jesus sometimes didn't want to be found.

Now, I know that may sound odd.

But it makes me feel good because sometimes, I don't want to be found either.

What about you?

Jesus should always be available and at the ready, shouldn't he? On the one hand, I suppose it's pretty disturbing that he hid from the people of Galilee. After all, they really needed him and they were drawn to him.

But still...there were those moments when he needed space and time.

In this passage, he wanted to be alone with the disciples to teach them. At other times in the Gospels, we're told that he withdrew to a quiet place for prayer and solitude.

Could Jesus have been an introvert at heart?

The picture above is of a very special place. It's a cave on a hillside, just below the "mount of the beatitudes." Legend has it that this cave could have been one of those "quiet places" Jesus liked to go to on his own.

Holly and I got to sit in this cave during our trip to the Holy Land, back in the spring. We looked out upon the beauty of the Sea of Galilee.

What a place, and what a blessing.

And for this introvert, what a comfort to know that sometimes it's ok to be away from the crowd. God is always with us, sometimes we just need a little quiet to hear his voice.

Where's your cave?

Grace & Peace,
Adam