Mark in March

Mark 1:35-39

³⁵ Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Early, before daybreak.  Alone.  Isolated place.  Wilderness?  Where no one would interrupt Him. And remember, it was in the wilderness where the angels took care of Him for 40 days.

To pray.

I wonder what Jesus prayed. 

• Did He pray for those He had just healed? 
• Did He pray they would stay true to God, the Father? 
• Did He praise the Father and pray for physical strength for the coming days of ministry? 
• Did He ask the Father to bring the multitude of sick and hurting people to Him? 
• Did He pray for His disciples?

³⁶ Later Simon and the others went out to find him. ³⁷ When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

How did the disciples know where to look?  Did God guide them to Him?  When we look for Jesus, we will find Him.  When we look for Jesus, God will move heaven and earth for us to find Him.

In regard to “everyone is looking for you,” – Jesus had already preached to them.  Some had believed, maybe all had believed and could now share with those who had not heard, what they learned from Jesus.  In the say way, when we learn, we can carry on the work of Jesus wherever we are and wherever He sends us.  So….

³⁸ But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

Preaching in church and casting out demons…. in church???  Do demons and evil spirits actually come to church?  Jesus sure did a lot of “cleaning house” as he traveled from town to town, synagogue to synagogue.  We focus a lot on Jesus healing the sick, which is good, but we need to understand that He also rebuked the evil from the churches, a lot, also.  He didn’t expel the people from the church, just the demons and evil spirits from the people.  He came to set the people free and to rid the church of the evil, divisive, deceptive, destructive spirits.  Visit our churches today, Lord Jesus, with Your authority over these evil spirits!  Rid me of any of these things, oh Lord.

What does Mark 1:35-39 say to you?