VHG – The Cost of the Crown – Part 1: Aloneness – The 1st Expense!

Summary:

As believers following the pattern of Jesus Christ, we must be taught about and be prepared for seasons of aloneness. Like the Master, we will find ourselves going through necessary periods of aloneness designed not to harm us, but to prepare us for a greater future. This truth can be seen in the biblical narratives of Jacob and Jesus, both of whom experience aloneness at critical points in their lives. Jacob, on his return home after many years of labour, failure, and unethical actions, spends a night of aloneness wrestling with God, which would forever change him, his name, his walk, and his future. Likewise, Jesus, just before going to the cross for all mankind, spends the night alone, agonizing over doing His Father’s will. Jacob leaves us the example of wrestling through our aloneness, while Jesus leaves us the example of praying through it. Whatever route we choose, former, latter, or both, be it known that for those who are in pursuit of destiny, aloneness is never an option, rather it is to be anticipated.

Discussion Questions:

• According to the Scripture, Jacob wrestling with God refused to let go until He blessed him, and ultimately ended up with a new name, a new limp, and a new destiny, [Gen. 32:24-31]. The old deceiving Jacob was now Israel, a prince with God, leading a family destined to become God’s new nation. Discuss the role that being alone with God plays in forging a clear sense of one’s future, and why aloneness is not viewed as a good thing in today’s culture.

• The gospel accounts depict a strange picture of Jesus the night before His crucifixion. The narratives show Jesus, alone in the garden, agonizing in prayer without the support of his disciples, who are unable to stay awake, [Matt. 26:36-40]. Luke describes his agony with the words “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood,” [Luke 22:44]. Discuss the feeling of aloneness openly, the incredible weight that often comes with it, and the role that prayer plays in carrying one through it.