Jesus and prayer.

Text: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35 NIV).

Scripture Reading:

Mark 1:35–39 (Lk 4:42,43)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Offertory Prayer: Father God, you have given us this day in which to live, worship, and serve. We come bringing tithes and offerings to express our love for you and our desire that the“world might come to know the good news about Jesus. Bless these gifts to that end we pray. Amen.

Introduction

In Luke 4:16 we see that Jesus had a habit of attending public worship services; but he also went off by Himself to speak, commune, worship, and seek help from His heavenly father.

The first chapter of Mark hits the ground running. Look how much Christ accomplishes just in the first chapter.

Christ is baptized. Mark 1:9-11

The temptation of Jesus. Mark 1:12-13

He ministers in Galilee. Mark 14-15

He calls the first disciples. Mark 1:16-20

He drives out an unclean spirit in Capernaum Mark 1:21-28

He heals at Capernaum (Peter's mother in law) Mark -34

We finally get to our passage this morning. Mark 1:35-39

We see Jesus gets up very early in the morning, while it is still dark and makes His way to a deserted place; and prays.

Why does he do it in this manner?

Because He wants to spend time alone with His father.

It is interesting to note the circumstances that provided the occasion for our Lord’s going apart for a private worship experience.

Jesus was strongly led by the Spirit to go away into a desert place at the beginning of his earthly ministry. .

Mark 1:12–13 (NIV)

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Sometimes we fail to recognize that the Holy Spirit of God strongly led our Lord into a desolate place as he sought the direction and methods for his redemptive ministry.

Sometimes we fail to recognize that the Holy Spirit leads US to a desolate place so WE can seek direction from the Father.

The forty days in the wilderness were a period of intense communion with God. Jesus talked to his Father, and we can be sure that the Father talked to His Son.

Even the angels ministered to him during this time.

Jesus shows us here in verse 35 the importance of getting alone with the Father and spending time with Him praying and listening.

Jesus retreated to a place of prayer when the responsibilities of life weighed heavily upon him (Mark 1:35).

Jesus found it necessary to go away by Himself to be with God so that he might receive strength and guidance and help as he faced both the opportunities and the duties that befell him.

If Jesus needed to retreat in prayer in the face of his responsibilities, it goes to show that we also need to go away for communion with God.

When great choices needed to be made, our Lord made them after serious reflection and communion with the Father God.

In (Mark 3:13–14) we see Christ setting aside His apostles.

Mark 3:13–14 (NIV)

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

He appoints 12 apostles.

Our lives would be more harmonious and in line with the will of God and we would experience far greater joy in living if we made our life decisions matters of earnest prayer rather than just making snap decisions along the way.

Abraham Lincoln said: I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.

Abraham Lincoln

Our Lord experienced a retreat when he was weary and needed rest.

Mark 6:30–32 (NIV)

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

A pastor was encouraging his people to be zealous in their efforts for God. He reminded them that the Devil never takes a vacation.

However, Jesus and the apostles found it necessary at times to go away into a private place where they might rest and that the vital energies of life might be restored.

If they needed this, surely we also need it from time to time.

Our Lord went away to a private place for prayer when he experienced misunderstanding.

Mark 6:45–46 (NIV)

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

At times even the apostles greatly misunderstood the motives and methods of thee Lord.

Following our Lord’s multiplication of the loaves and fishes, these apostles were encouraging the crowd to marshal a movement to crown Jesus as their king.

Our Lord broke up this demonstration and compelled the apostles to get into a boat so that he might send them away.

After they were gone, he needed an experience with God and went apart for prayer

Being misunderstood is the lot of every person, and it can be very painful.

Jesus resorted to prayer when he was misunderstood, and that is what we should do.

Jesus and the apostles needed time to be alone with one another.

Mark 7:24 (NIV)

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

Our Lord was an activist and was almost compulsive about ministering to the needs of people.

Though he came to minister and his heart was moved by people’s needs, there were times when he needed to be alone with his helpers.

If Jesus needed this kind of fellowship, it goes to show that we are bound to need it too.

Jesus retreated to a private place when he needed encouragement (Mark 9:2-13). (The mount of transfiguration)

About six months before his crucifixion, Jesus took three of his disciples with him to the top of a mountain for a time of prayer. We see this in Matt. 17:1–8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28–36).

On the mountaintop, Jesus experienced the presence of Moses and Elijah.

They discussed with him what was to take place by means of his death on the cross and his resurrection from the tomb (cf. Matt. 17:1–8; Luke 9:28–36).

In addition to meeting with these Old Testament characters, our Lord heard the voice of the Father expressing his divine approval (vs.7).

Mark 9:7 (NIV)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

If Jesus needed to be encouraged, all of us need to be encouraged. We can find that encouragement if we take time out to go apart and be alone with God.

Jesus went apart into a private place for prayer when he desperately needed strength for the impossible task he faced (Mark 14:32–42). (The Garden of Gethsemane.)

Our Lord went apart into a private place for prayer as he faced his crucifixion, and he prayed repeatedly.

At that time he also needed the encouragement and strength of the prayers of his three chosen apostles who were there but who fell asleep.

Conclusion

If we are too busy to draw into a private place to commune with God and let him speak to our minds and hearts, we are entirely too busy.

We all need to arrange our schedules to let God have the place that belongs to him in our lives.

We should spend a time of solitude with God each day, praying and reading his Word.

We all can find time and space for private worship if we set our hearts on it.

Not to do so is to impoverish ourselves, to miss the blessings of God the Father.

Dietric Bonhoeffer used to take his students into the forests of Germany and have them spend a half hour every morning meditating on a bible passage before their day started.

I believe this is a strategy learned from Christ

Follow Christs example and start taking time for fellowship, encouragement,