WHAT DID JESUS DO WHEN HE WAS ALONE?
Very little is recorded in the Bible of the activities of Jesus when He was alone.. During the first 30 years o0f His life on earth as a human child, He "grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. . . . And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:40, 52). His answer to Mary's question in the temple at 12 years of age indicates awareness of His relationship with God as His Father (Luke 2:48-50). From His experience at that time (Luke 2:50), it is evident that His knowledge was far advanced for a boy of His age. With His mind unclouded by sin, who can say to what degree His learning and understanding exceeded that of the wisest of all men?
All of this, besides being part of a devout Hebrew family and being known in the community of Nazareth (Matt. 13:53-58), suggests that during His childhood and youth He had to spend much time alone in prayer fellowship with His Father God. He needed God's comfort as His soul was distressed with the sinful environment into which the incarnation had placed Him. He had limited Himself to the restrictions of human life on earth, and the "wisdom from above" was required as, "learned He obedience by the things whuich He suffered." (Heb. 5:8). Prayer to sustain Him in times of spiritual and physical exhaustion, and before and after dealing with His disciples, the multitudes, and the enemies who constantly dogged His ministries was essential.
Before calling His disciples, being led by the Spirit into the wilderness, , Jesus was alone to be tempted by the devil. There He defeated His arch-enemy by simply using the Word of God. Though in His deity, He was the Living Word, in His humanity did He need to read and learn it alone during those 30 years before His public ministry? Surely we need to spend much time alone with the Word and in prayer to face the issues of daily living.
During the 3 years of earthly ministry, Jesus was seldom alone. As a raabbi, His disciples were His constant companions. He would often withdraw from them into a nearby mountain to pray, and the Scripture references to His bneing alone were primarily in this setting. Some occasions when He prayed:
After feeding the 5000 and before walking on the water (Mark 6:32-52). After cleansing the leper and before healing the paralytic (Luke 5:12-26). In Gethsemane, though His disciples were there, they slept while Jesus, having withdrawn a short distance, He prayed 3 separate times (Matt.26:36-46). For His disciples, though not alone, this is an example of His praying, (John 17), as is also that in the garden. These should help us in our praying. Jesus predicted that the disciples would leave Him alone to face the trials and the cross. (John 16:32). Isaiah prophesied Jesus victory at Armageddon which He would accomplish alone (Is. 63:3; Rev. 19:11-21). While the armies in heaven follow Him, He is said to smite the natiions with the sword out of His mouth.
What Jesus did when He was alone was primarily to pray, determining the will of the Father in His ministry as the Son of Man to mankind and committing Himself afresh to the mission for which the Father sent Him.