Fortress of Solitude

The Word is first...

Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

¹⁵ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I confess that I grew up watching Superman on TV. Week after week I watched him, whether it was in black&white, live action color or cartoon, I followed Superman. And one of the things that has stuck with me about Superman is his Fortress of Solitude. (It's funny but my little fortress of solitude just got a little bit quieter as I typed those words! cue music...) From time to time, the 'Man of Steel' would escape the pressures of everyday super-hero life by flying off to his Fortress of Solitude and there he would study, rest, speak with his father, meditate and contemplate. Invariably he would then return, refreshed and renewed, to the pressing matters of saving the world. Having regained his 'mental strength' he would resume saving lives, thwarting the bad guys and fending off the endless attempts to take his life.

As I type this out, it occurs to me that I could write a book comparing and contrasting the modern day Superman with the eternal Son of God and perhaps that would be interesting. But I only brought up Superman as a frame of reference for the concept of a Fortress of Solitude. Having established that frame, it's time to turn my attention to the scripture before me today.

Contextually, my study passage today follows the healing of a man with leprosy. For whatever reason, after healing this man Jesus charged the man with two responsibilities. First, keep this to yourself. Second, go and make the appropriate sacrifices as a testimony. Apparently, Jesus was conducting a covert operation and did not want his cover blown just yet. I find it interesting that Jesus made such a specific point of making certain that the healed man was intentional about fulfilling his obligation under the law. I think that in this thought there is a whole chapter to be written.

Despite his efforts to continue in his covert operation, Jesus was exposed. That's where I pick up today. V15 says "Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses." It occurs to me that the man having been healed from such a terrible malaise was so excited, so appreciative and so profoundly changed that he could not 'keep it to himself'. And like a modern-day 'telephone tree' as this man shared with those he met, they shared with their friends who in turn shared with their friends and so on such that this miracle soon became common knowledge. Not just common knowledge but important and inspirational knowledge. The people in need, those who were sick, were encouraged and inspired to seek out Jesus that they too could be healed. And so the word spread and the people came and came and kept on coming. From that day to this day, people who hear the news of Jesus and recognize their own sickness seek him out. I know this to be true because I was one who heard these stories and I came to Jesus to be healed of my own terrible, repugnant afflication; sin. And like that man I have gone to the priests and I have made my sacrifice and I have shared the news of His power and I point the way towards him for others who seek his healing.

But the point of V15 is that great throngs of people sought him out, hounding him at every turn. Completely absorbed by their own needs, they laid upon him a great burden. With no care for his own needs Jesus responded to them with love and compassion and by the power of The Lord, he healed them. This put tremendous pressure on the Son of Man and was not without a price. Yet Jesus, knew what he needed to do that he could continue in his mission.

V16 tells us 'But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.' There are three significant points I wish to share today.

First is frequency; 'Jesus often withdrew.' Our Lord Jesus recognized his own needs and would often or frequently withdraw that he could be refreshed and renewed. He did this so often that it is a central component of who he is, it is an essential ingredient of his character. Once cannot miss this fact when reading Scripture. No matter where he was or what was going on around him; whether surrounded by great multitudes or in the intimate circle of his friends, Jesus routinely and regularly withdrew. He would by intention, set aside the demands being placed on him, allow the world to carry on without his immediate presence and 'escape' to his Fortress of Solitude.

Now, if we are to aspire to the character of Christ, if we are to emulate him in thought, word and deed and surely we are, then we too are to often withdraw. No matter how important we think we are, no matter what is going on around us, no matter where we are, we too should 'often withdraw.' In my own walk with Jesus, there came a time when my growth reached a plateau. Recognizing this I turned to my mentor who rightly encouraged me to establish a pattern or habit of often withdrawing. He taught me to do this in the form of a daily quiet time. He helped me to create a fortress of solitude of my own, one that is entirely portable, to which I could withdraw. He taught me the value of withdrawing, he helped me to establish the habit of withdrawing and together we prayed that it would become a central component of who I am that my character would conform more to that of Christ.

The second point is practical; that Jesus withdrew to 'lonely places.' This doesn't mean the place was desolate, barren or uncomfortable. Nor does it mean that in those places Jesus was lonely. What it means is that the distractions of everyday life did not penetrate into those places. We read in Scripture that Jesus withdrew to the desert, to gardens, to a boat on a lake, to mountain tops, to a distance a "stone's throw" away and ultimately to Heaven. You see, he didn't require a special or specific place. All that was required was a place that provided an opportunity to quiet his mind and heart away from distractions.

We read in Scripture that Jesus taught his disciples to 'go into their room and close the door' to pray. This is the practical application of the concept by which Jesus lived, to withdraw to a lonely place. Jesus had no room into which he could withdraw so he withdrew out of doors. How appropriate that the Son of God should withdraw to the garden where his Father's own creation would be his fortress of solitude.

The last point is purposeful; Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He did not escape the demanding crowds that he could languish or relax. He did not seek solitude that he could think or plan or sleep. He was purposeful in doing that one thing that restored him to full capacity, he prayed. Superman talked to his father Jarel while in his fortress. Jesus talked to his father, GOD while in his fortress. This was not a time for monologue or diatribe, it was time for conversation. In the same way that our physical strength is renewed with each bite of bread, so too is our spiritual strength renewed by every word from God. And as it is for us, so too is it for Jesus who thrived upon the word of God.

In fact, we read of one such time that Jesus withdrew to a lonely place and prayed. In that instant, he prayed that 'this cup pass from him but that God's will be done.' And in that lonely place, having conversed with God the Father, angels were dispatched to minister to Jesus. When I enter into my lonely place and go before my heavenly Father with prayer I expect no less than to be strengthened and renewed by every word from God. And yes, I do believe that the angels still are dispatched to minister to those in need.

So I close my time and this journal entry today with three questions for you;

Do you often withdraw? If you do, don't stop. If you don't, get started. We have the example of Jesus to model for and encourage us. I'm of the mindset that what's good for Him is also good for me and you.

Where is your 'lonely place'? Do you have a fortress of solitude into which you can slip whenever necessary? If you do, cherish and protect it. If you don't, just step out into the yard leaving the cares and demands of the world behind you.

Do you talk to your father? Do you really? Do you listen or just list? Praying involves a conversation, you must speak and you must listen. Do it.

Love in Christ,
Carl