Mark 1:35-39

Mark 1:35–39 KJV (WS)

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Introduction

Last week we finished covering a busy day in Jesus’ life.

He preached in the Synagogue.

He cast out a demon.

He healed Peter’s mother-in-law.

He had sabbath dinner at Peter’s house along with Andrew, James, and John.

He stayed up late into the night healing people and casting out demons.

We must remember that Jesus was simultaneously completely God and completely man.

The events of Saturday and Sunday night were an evidence of Jesus’ deity.

The events of Sunday morning, which we will look at today, are evidence of Jesus’ humanity.

After a very long night of ministry, Jesus gets up early the next morning. vs 35

It was towards the morning, but it was still far from dawn when Jesus got up.

He didn’t get up for no reason.

Jesus got up to pray.

In Mark, Jesus prays alone and often.

Though Jesus is the Son of God, He still prioritized His time in prayer.

What did Jesus that he needed to pray?

There is a problem inherent with that question.

We too often think that prayer is how we get things from God.

Jesus prayers were communions with his Father.

If we will be faithful in prayer we will find that communion too.

Too often we allow other priorities to crowd out our prayer time.

We need to learn from Jesus’ example.

Late hours the night before did not keep Him from his appointed meeting with his father early the next morning.

Jesus exemplifies the the rhythm of work, rest, and prayer.

When others seek rest and relaxation, Jesus sought the Father.

This is because Jesus is about to undertake a serious task.

Jesus always prayed for important things in his ministry.

We will see what that task was in just a second.

But, first, Mark turns his attention back to Peter.

Simon gets up Sunday morning too. vss 36-37

Not as early as Jesus, though.

I imagine him getting up and stumbling through the house looking for breakfast.

Maybe his mother-in-law is already up in the kitchen.

Simon asks her if she has seen Jesus.

She tells him that she hasn’t seen him, he was already gone when she got up.

Peter notices some sounds from outside his house.

There had been hoards of the people.

As he looks out his front window, there are one or two people already gathering on the front lawn.

Peter rolls his eyes that they are already there.

He sits down to eat his breakfast ignoring the people outside.

By the time Peter finishes eating, the crowd has grown.

Peter’s wife comes into the kitchen and tells Peter he better go look.

He goes to the front door and the few stragglers have turned a sizeable crowd.

Peter steps out and tells them that Jesus is not in the house.

The people either don’t hear him or they don’t believe him because they start to push their way forward.

Simon rushes back into the house and slams the door.

The people yell at him from outside.

They are asking for the miracle worker.

Peter may not have known it, but these people didn’t want to hear more of Jesus’ words, they wanted to see more of his miracles.

His wife comes into the room with a worried look.

What are we going to do, she says.

I’ve got to find Jesus, Peter responds.

Quick, go out the back door, we can handle things here, Peter’s wife says.

Peter nods and rushes off to wake Andrew up.

Together they rush out to find Jesus.

The greek wording means that they pursued him strenuously.

When they found him, Peter informs Jesus that all men are seeking him.

Though Peter may have been stressed at the crowd gathering back home, I imagine he thinks that Jesus will be pleased with the news that he is popular in Capernaum.

Isn’t this what he wants?

Crowds, fame, and popularity?

Jesus responds quickly to Peter.

Jesus reveals the next steps in his ministry plan. vss 38-39

Jesus seems unaffected by the news from Capernaum.

Think about how things could have gone for Jesus in Capernaum.

He stays in town indefinitely.

He heals anyone that is sick or afflicted.

People grow to love his miracles.

They begin bringing him gifts.

They set up a special temple for him.

They begin to worship him.

they love him as long as he does the miracles.

Security is always a temptation that stands against risk.

Jesus understood this.

He didn’t permit acclaim to change his priorities.

Jesus did not come for that scenario I just rehearsed for you.

V 38 is one of my favorite verses in the book of Mark.

He tells his disciples that they are living the metropolitan city of Capernaum to go and preach in the neighboring towns.

This reference to towns should be understood to refer to country villages.

Jesus didn’t just come to be the miracle worker in a big city.

Preaching far and wide is the object for which Jesus came.

The miracles were only intended as signs of the truth of his preaching.

Jesus; primary mission was to preach the kingdom of God and the gospel of repentance as we saw at the beginning of the chapter.

He says “For therefore came I”

This is why I left the house.

This is why I left my house was to preach the gospel.

And so they go.

They visit the small towns in the surrounding area.

Jesus preaches to them.

But notice there is no mention of healing the sick.

This was not the primary purpose for his ministry.

He did cast out multiple demons.

This was why he had to go pray early in the morning.

He was about to expand his ministry and he needed to be in tune with his Father before he embarked.

There is a lesson for us here…

Application

Jesus modeled a ministry model that was not content to stagnate.

He was always pushing ahead.

Really since creation God’s plan has been ever marching forward to his goal.

We see that even on earth Jesus pushes towards his mission.

We should be the same.

Christians who have stopped going and growing are the most miserable.

All Christians should follow Jesus example by taking their witness to the next person, next neighborhood, next town, and the next nation.

This is or can be taxing.

After all we are 100% human, just like Jesus.

But, unlike Jesus we are 0% divine.

But, like Jesus we have access to the most incredible source of power that humanity has ever seen.

Prayer.

Prayer is work, though.

Prayer is boring sometimes.

Prayer takes time.

Prayer can be awkward.

If we are going to advance in our mission, we can’t do it without prayer.

If we are going to follow Jesus example in broadening our efforts in spreading the gospel, we need to also follow his example in spending time in prayer.

I would submit to you that early morning is the best time for us to get alone with God and commune with our heavenly father.

Before the distractions of the day take hold on us, we need to get a hold of God.

Ask him for energy.

Ask him for opportunity.

Ask him for wisdom.

If Jesus needed morning prayer, what makes us think that we don’t?