On one hand the mission of Jesus was getting gradual progress (John 10: 40-42) and on the other hand the enemy was on pins and needles to destroy the same at any cost even by putting Jesus to death (Matt. 26: 3-5). Such humiliations and persecutions were not new at the time of Jesus, but every prophet of God, even preceding Jesus met with the same misfortune (Matt. 5: 11-12). Many prophets were killed, and many were stoned and many a prophet was rejected (Matt. 23:37). This was the reason why Jesus used to preach always avoiding confrontation by his enemies. And when he had to meet his adversaries face to face he always tried to escape and managed to give them the slip (John 10: 38 & 11: 54-57). When the un-favourable tide grew out of hand, it became too hard for Jesus to carry out his mission. However he was quite aware of the fact that he would certainly be put to death just as many other prophets had been, and yet he continued to carry on his mission of preaching somehow managing to do so secretly. On one day Jesus felt sure that he was going to be bartered into the hands of the enemy who would persecute and ultimately kill him by crucifixion.
Therefore he made up his mind to take refuge in the garden of Gathsemane were he used to go frequently along with his disciples. And he presumed it to be the only place where he could safely hide himself from the wicked hands of the enemy. But he was sure that some of his own disciples had joined hands with the enemy through whom the hiding place might be betrayed or shown to the enemy. And therefore having no other alternative, he decided rather to defend himself by his own trials and self-efforts, and then by beseeching help from Gode, for deliverance from the hands of the enemy.
Whenever he wanted any help from God, it was his custom to make self-efforts first and then to pray God to help him in his task.
A good example of Jesus’ beseeching help from God in this way after making his own trails and efforts can be seen from the following verses.
“THEN JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES UNTO HIM, AND SAID, I HAVE COMPASSION ON THE MULTITUDE, BECAUSE THEY CONTINUE WITH ME NOW THREE DAYS, AND HAVE NOTHING TO EAT: AND I WILL NOT SEND THEM AWAY FASTING, LEST THEY FAINT IN THE WAY. AND HIS DISCIPLES SAY UNTO HIM, WHENCE SHOULD WE HAVE SO MUCH BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS, AS TO FILL SO GREAT A MULTITUDE? AND JESUS SAITH UNTO THEM, HOW MANY LOAVES HAVE YE? AND THEY SAID, SEVEN, AND A FEW LITTLE FISHES. AND HE COMMANDED THE MULTITUDE TO SIT DOWN ON THE GROUND. AND HE TOOK THE SEVEN LOAVES AND THE FISHES, AND GAVE THANKS, AND BREAK THEM, AND GAVE TO HIS DISCIPLES, AND THE DISCIPLES TO THE MULTITUDE. AND THEY TOOK UP OF THE BROKEN MEAT THAT WAS LEFT SEVEN BASKETS FULL, AND THEY THAT DID EAT WEAR FOUR THOUSAND MEN, BESIDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.” (Matthew: 15:32-38)
In the above verses, we understand that Jesus pitied the multitude who was with him for three days without food and so lest the multitude faint he did not like to send it away in starvation. There was no means of feeding the multitude and therefore he enquired his disciples if they had anything on hand to feed with. As a result seven loaves and a few fishes were brought before Jesus. He took them in his hands and praised the Lord. That is to say he prayed God to shower his mercy and provide from his bounty making this little quantity of bread and fish enough to feed the great multitude.
In the above instance it is clear that he had not simply and idly begged God to give sustinance, but he made a little effort for what little he had and then prayed God, and God showered his mercy and provided from his bounty where with the small quantity of bread and fish were made plenty enough for such a great multitude.
As a matter of fact this is the real way and procedure of beseeching help from God. Simply depending on Heavenly help without our efforts and trials brings no fruit; but it is against the law of nature that God has given for man. So also, simply depending upon our own trials and efforts without seeking God’s bounty and mercy is un-Godly. But a righteous and Godly man always beseeches Divine help after having perfectly gone through his trials and efforts. This is why Jesus, before going to pray God to save him, made his own trials and self-efforts for saving and defending himself from the enemy.
