The Getaway
Have you ever planned and executed a getaway?
Sure you have.
You may not have realized that’s what you were doing as you were doing it, but I know you have. Especially if you’re married. Married folks are getaway experts.
Let me explain.
There are times where my wife and I will go somewhere, but before we arrive, we’ll come up with a getaway. An “exit strategy,” if you will. (See, I knew you’d done this. I can almost hear you going, “Ohhh, that kind of getaway!”)
We’ll say something like, “Ok, in exactly one hour and fifteen minutes I’m going to sneeze and exit the room. This is your cue to meet me at the car.”
You ever been there?
“No, because I’m a decent human being who actually enjoys the places I go.” Fair enough. My wife and I enjoy where we go too––most of the time. But having an exist strategy just feels…safe.
Think about it. You’ve probably done this at your in-laws’ St. Patrick’s Day party, or that birthday bash for your third cousin, twice remove––the one who keeps showing up at things because he doesn’t understand the “removed” part of his relation. Maybe you go to some things because you feel like you need to make an appearance because…you’re an A list celebrity, I guess…you make “appearances.” La-dee-da.
But you go to some things because you feel like you should, but you have the getaway planned because you don’t want to get trapped.
And let’s be honest, parents––you’ve perfected this art. You plan how to get away from your kids!
You pay babysitters, send your kids to camp, or hide in the closet for a moment of peace. Some of you even spend money on romantic getaways, only to come back…pregnant with another kid! (Oops.)
But here’s the thing: we don’t just need getaways from social events, our kids, or responsibilities. We need spiritual getaways too.
The Case for Spiritual Getaways
We all need moments to step away from the noise—the TV, phones, computers, social media, and the endless to-do lists.
We need time to unplug from the busyness, the bills, and the expectations. Time to escape from laundry piles and leaky sinks.
We need to retreat from everything that suffocates our souls and get to a place where we can breathe deeply and take in the peace and presence of God.
We need spiritual getaways. Where it is us––alone with God. Because:
The spiritual getaways are what prepare us for life when we get back.
It is during these that God is able to strengthen us, equip us, and provide guidance for us that’ll sustain us when we get back to our daily grind. And here’s the deal, in Mark 1:35, we witness Jesus execute a getaway to perfection. But the really interesting part of His getaway for me is what He was getting away from.
Jesus’ Getaway
We tend to associate the need for a getaway or retreat or vacation with something negative.
“I’m stressed. I need a vacation. I’m dealing with some anxiety. I need to get away from things for a while.”
But Jesus was getting away from what many of us spend our lives trying to attain: success and popularity.
Jesus and His disciples were a town called Capernaum, and Jesus had been in the synagogue that day teaching. The people loved it! And Mark tells us:
“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but He would not let the demons speak because they knew Who He was.” - Mark 1:32-34 NIV
That was…day one. Wow!
Jesus is amassing huge crowds, preaching amazing sermons, casting out demons, healing the sick. This is a lot, but it also amazing. He’s like…overnight success, right?
So what does He do with this newly acquired fame and following? Sleep in late? Eat a big breakfast? Demand His servants fetch Him Fiji water? Nope. Mark tells us:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” - Mark 1:35 NIV
He needed a getaway.
The Priority was the Getaway
We’d think after such a grueling first day of ministry He’d need sleep, food, maybe some more sleep and food. Some time to relax and chill. Nope. He needed a getaway. And there’s a few things about this getaway I want to highlight over the next couple of posts.
The first thing is this:
Jesus prioritized the getaway, not the time of day.
See, I think so often we read this verse or hear it preached and immediately get frustrated and discouraged because we think, “Jesus prayed very early in the morning, so that means I’m supposed to pray very early in the morning.” And the reason you get frustrated is because you already know that isn’t going to go well!
I’ve been there before. I’ll think, “Ok, I’m going to get up early, read my Bible, pray, enjoy time with God in the silence before the world wakes up.” I’ve got this beautiful picture of what it’ll be like…and then I try it. And I’m just sitting at the table…looking like death. Looking like I need a resurrection.
Please hear me, the emphasis of this text is not the when, but the what. It’s about what Jesus did, not when He did it. Jesus prioritized the getaway, not the time of day.
Remember, Jesus was in demand at this point. Large crowds gathered around Him. Peter was about to tell Him the whole town was looking for Him. So, what are the odds Jesus could’ve found a secluded silent place at 12:30 in the afternoon? Probably not good.
So again, maybe getting up super early wasn’t the point. Maybe that was just the time it was easiest for Jesus to sneak away unnoticed.
The priority was the getaway…not the time of day.
Plan it. Execute it.
So here’s what I encourage you to do. Think about the day ahead. When might it be easiest for you to sneak away and get alone with God?
Plan the getaway. (morning, lunch break, before bed)
Execute it.
I promise it’ll be worth it. Because those getaways are what prepares you for life when you get back.
Til next time…