The fourth mention is found in Luke, chapter six.  “It came to pass in these days that He went out into the mountains to pray, and He continued all night in prayer to God.”  The time is probably about the middle of the second year of His public ministry.  He had been having very exasperating experiences with the national leaders from Judea who dogged His steps, criticising and nagging at every turn, sowing seeds of skepticism among His simple-minded, intense-spirited Galileans.  It was also the day before He selected the twelve men who were to be the leaders after His departure, and preached the mountain sermon.  Luke does not say that He planned to spend the entire night in prayer.  Wearied in spirit by the ceaseless petty picking and Satanic hatred of His enemies, thinking of the serious work of the morrow, there was just one thing for Him to do.  He knew where to find rest, and sweet fellowship, and a calming presence, and wise counsel.  Turning His face northward He sought the solitude of the mountain not far off for quiet meditation and prayer.  And as He prayed and listened and talked without words, daylight gradually grew into twilight, and that yielded imperceptibly to the brilliant Oriental stars spraying down their lustrous fire-light.  And still He prayed, while the darkness below and the blue above deepened, and the stilling calm of God wrapped all nature around, and hushed His heart into a deeper peace.  In the fascination of the Father’s loving presence He was utterly lost to the flight of time, but prayed on and on until, by and by, the earth had once more completed its daily turn, the gray streaks of dawnlight crept up the east, and the face of Palestine, fragrant with the deep dews of an eastern night, was kissed by a sun of a new day.  And then, “when it was day”—­how quietly the narrative goes on—­“He called the disciples and chose from them twelve,—­and a great multitude of disciples and of the people came,—­and He healed all—­and He opened His mouth and taught them—­for power came forth from Him." Is it any wonder, after such a night!  If all our exasperations and embarrassments were followed, and all our decisions and utterances preceded, by unhurried prayer, what power would come forth from us, too.  Because as He is even so are we in this world.

The fifth mention is made by Matthew, chapter fourteen, and Mark, chapter six, John hinting at it in chapter six of his gospel.  It was about the time of the third passover, the beginning of His last year of service.  Both He and the disciples had been kept exceedingly busy with the great throng coming and going incessantly.  The startling news had just come of the tragic death of His forerunner.  There was need of bodily rest, as well as of quiet to think over the rapidly culminating opposition.  So taking boat they headed towards the eastern shore of the lake.  But the eager crowds watched the direction taken and spreading the news, literally “ran”