One Day Alone with God 

When the work of the kingdom allowed, Wednesdays were always a day of rest for Jesus and the apostles. On this day, Jesus told Andrew that he planned to be away for the day, and that he and the other apostles should feel free to spend the day doing whatever they wished to do.

David Zebedee, aware that Jesus was in danger from the authorities since his arrival in Jerusalem, advised Jesus that he should take three armed men with him for protection. But Jesus refused this offer, saying "You mean well, but you err in that you fail to understand that the Son of Man needs no one to defend him. No man will lay hands on me until that hour when I am ready to lay down my life in conformity to my Father's will. These men may not accompany me. I desire to go alone, that I may commune with the Father."

David and his men backed down, and Jesus started off alone. But before he could get very far, young John Mark approached Jesus. He was carrying a basket containing food and water and told Jesus that he might need these things since he might get hungry and thirsty during the day. So Jesus smiled at John and reached out to take the basket. But John did not let go, telling Jesus that if he would let him come along, he would carry the lunch basket and see to it that it didn’t get left behind if Jesus wanted to go off by himself to pray. He promised to be quiet and not ask questions.

They were both still holding on to the basket by this time, but then Jesus let go of it, saying to John: "Since with all your heart you crave to go with me, it shall not be denied you. We will go off by ourselves and have a good visit. You may ask me any question that arises in your heart, and we will comfort and console each other. You may start out carrying the lunch, and when you grow weary, I will help you. Follow on with me."

And so, the Master spent his last day of peace and quiet with John Mark and with his heavenly Father, walking the hills together. They left that morning and did not return until after sunset that night. In the realms on high this day has come to be known as "the day which a young man spent with God in the hills."

Jesus spent a lot of this day with John, engaging in open conversations about matters pertaining to both the present world and the eternal realm. During their discussions, John told Jesus how much he wished to be older so that he could have been an apostle. Nevertheless, he expressed his immense gratitude for the opportunity to accompany them. In response, Jesus cautioned the young man against becoming disheartened by upcoming events and reassured him that he would survive to become a powerful messenger of the kingdom.

During part of this day alone with God, John Mark wanted Jesus to tell him more about how he knew that he would grow up to be a "mighty messenger of the kingdom." Jesus proceeded to explain to John how he knew John would be loyal and true. This is a beautiful treatise on the value of a good upbringing in a loving home. Jesus said:

"I know you will prove loyal to the gospel of the kingdom because I can depend upon your present faith and love when these qualities are grounded upon such an early training as has been your portion at home. You are the product of a home where the parents bear each other a sincere affection, and therefore you have not been overloved so as injuriously to exalt your concept of self-importance. Neither has your personality suffered distortion in consequence of your parents’ loveless maneuvering for your confidence and loyalty, the one against the other. You have enjoyed that parental love which insures laudable self-confidence and which fosters normal feelings of security. But you have also been fortunate in that your parents possessed wisdom as well as love; and it was wisdom which led them to withhold most forms of indulgence and many luxuries which wealth can buy while they sent you to the synagogue school along with your neighborhood playfellows, and they also encouraged you to learn how to live in this world by permitting you to have original experience. You came over to the Jordan, where we preached and John’s disciples baptized, with your young friend Amos. Both of you desired to go with us. When you returned to Jerusalem, your parents consented; Amos’s parents refused; they loved their son so much that they denied him the blessed experience which you have had, even such as you this day enjoy. By running away from home, Amos could have joined us, but in so doing he would have wounded love and sacrificed loyalty. Even if such a course had been wise, it would have been a terrible price to pay for experience, independence, and liberty. Wise parents, such as yours, see to it that their children do not have to wound love or stifle loyalty in order to develop independence and enjoy invigorating liberty when they have grown up to your age.

"Love, John, is the supreme reality of the universe when bestowed by all-wise beings, but it is a dangerous and oftentimes semiselfish trait as it is manifested in the experience of mortal parents. When you get married and have children of your own to rear, make sure that your love is admonished by wisdom and guided by intelligence.

"Your young friend Amos believes this gospel of the kingdom just as much as you, but I cannot fully depend upon him; I am not certain about what he will do in the years to come. His early home life was not such as would produce a wholly dependable person. Amos is too much like one of the apostles who failed to enjoy a normal, loving, and wise home training. Your whole afterlife will be more happy and dependable because you spent your first eight years in a normal and well-regulated home. You possess a strong and well-knit character because you grew up in a home where love prevailed and wisdom reigned. Such a childhood training produces a type of loyalty which assures me that you will go through with the course you have begun."

This conversation between Jesus and John Mark continued for more than an hour. The Master proceeded to explain to John how a child relies entirely on their parents and the home environment for their initial understanding of intellectual, social, moral, and even spiritual matters. The family, in the eyes of a young child, represents their first exposure to both human and divine relationships, and thus plays a crucial role in shaping their worldview. The child's early impressions of the universe are formed through the care provided by their mother, while their initial understanding of the heavenly Father is derived from their earthly father. The subsequent life of a child is greatly influenced by their early experiences and emotional development within the family, impacting their overall happiness, ease, and difficulties. The first few years of existence have a profound and lasting impact on an individual's entire future.

Despite the fact that parents in the twenty-first century possess abundant knowledge and improved understanding to enhance and uplift home life, it remains true that very few modern households provide the nurturing environment for children that would compare to Jesus' home in Galilee or John Mark's home in Judea. However, embracing Jesus' gospel will bring about immediate improvements in home life because it is based on the father-child relationship. As long as we teach children to pray, addressing God as "Our Father who is in heaven," a tremendous responsibility lies upon earthly fathers to live and organize their homes in a way that makes the term "father" truly cherished in the minds and hearts of their growing children.

The loving atmosphere of a wise home and the devoted practice of true religion profoundly influence one another in a reciprocal manner. A nurturing home life enhances religion, and genuine religion always brings happiness and stability to the home.

This event serves as a timeless demonstration of the Creator's eagerness to engage with his created beings. Even a young person like John Mark, when their heartfelt desire is truly of supreme value, can capture the attention and relish in the affectionate companionship of the God of the entire universe. Anyone can genuinely experience the indescribable joy of being in solitary communion with God amidst the hills for an entire day. And this was precisely the extraordinary encounter that John Mark had on this particular Wednesday in the Judean hills.

John Mark never forgot this memorable day that he spent with Jesus in the hills. And he never forgot what Jesus told him as they were getting ready to return to the Gethsemane camp. Jesus told him: "Well, John, we have had a good visit, a real day of rest, but see to it that you tell no man the things which I told you." And John Mark never did reveal any details of this wonderful day spent with Jesus. He became very close to Jesus in the final days and never lost sight of him; he was always nearby and he only slept while Jesus slept.