Mark 1:35–38 (NKJV, also appearing in Luke 4:42-43)
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
Mark 1:35-38
38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”
While this is a very short passage, it illustrates some very important principles. First, Jesus demonstrates that prayer is essential for every individual. The Bible records that Jesus, a man among men, sought the opportunity for prayer, even solitary prayer, on numerous occasions. He set the example for all. If Jesus saw the value of prayer, then most certainly we need to see the value of prayer.
Second, Jesus demonstrated the unimportance of fame. Well, maybe not unimportance as much as the low priority of fame. With slick marketing campaigns and logos, most churches today that seem to be growing have their stickers, t-shirts, and mugs popping up all over their towns. While that is not evil, and certainly helps get the word out, Jesus seems to brush right past the insistence of His disciples insistence that “everyone is looking for you.” His notoriety or popularity was not noteworthy at the moment.
Third, and finally, Jesus demonstrates that the mission is the focus. When Jesus got up from prayer, He immediately moves His team into action, insisting that they go to the next towns, for the mission was to preach there also. Jesus was a man on a mission, and would not be denied. May ministers and all Christians sharpen their focus to see prayer and mission as paramount over fame and fortune. This is the legacy of Christ!
Artwork from https://versaday.com/Months/03/0318.aspx and https://www.bereaproject.org/verse-of-the-day/2016/4/3/mark-138
Live@5 – Monday, January 10, 2022
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