What is Primary

A Bible Study on Mark 1:35-39

Read Mark 1:35-39:

³⁵In the morning, rising up early before daybreak, Jesus went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there he prayed.

³⁶And Simon and those who were with him, followed after Jesus.

³⁷When they had found him, they said to him, All men seek for thee.

³⁸And Jesus said to them, Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also. That is why I have come.

³⁹And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out many devils.

After the busy day of preaching and teaching, healing the sick and casting out demons, the Lord gets up early and withdrew away from the crowds. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place for a time of prayer and spiritual refreshment.

“Jesus went out, and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed.” Here is a pattern for us to follow. We also need to leave the busy world behind and have some time alone with God. We also need some quiet time for spiritual refreshment.

This can be quite simple: Just find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for a few minutes. Read some Scripture and think about what God is saying through his Word. Then, say a simple (or longer) prayer and close with the Lord’s Prayer. Also, be sure to include some moments of silence. Silence is a powerful tool to help calm our agitated soul.

In the Gospels, we see how Christ often withdrew to pray by himself. Many times, this happened at key moments in the ministry of our Lord. Luke tells us Jesus prayed at his baptism, transfiguration, before he selected his 12 apostles, after he fed the crowds, and so on. In another instance, Luke tells us how the disciples noticed how intensely Jesus prayed. They then asked for his help so that they could follow his example: “Lord, teach us to pray.”

We have the confidence that God teaches us how to pray in the right way. We offer our prayers to God the Father, through his Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We simply approach the Lord with faith and trust, and we share our burden with him. We tell God what is on our heart today, and we commit the matter to his hands. “Thy will be done.” Amen!

Luke 5:15-16:

¹⁵So much the more went there a fame abroad of him and great multitudes came together to hear him, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

¹⁶And Jesus withdrew by himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 6:12:

¹²And it came to pass in those days, that he went out to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 11:1:

¹And it came to pass, that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

When the apostles discovered that Jesus went off by himself, they immediately go off to search for him. They are surprised that Jesus wanted to get away from the big crowds.

Apparently, the disciples were quite excited by the popular response Jesus was receiving at the home of Peter. The people were all flocking to be near Christ. They were bringing all their sick to be healed. “All men seek for thee.”

The response of Jesus shows how he is aware of how easily the crowds can misunderstand his mission. The Messiah is more than just a miracle worker, a great healer, or an exorcist. The crowds desperately sought physical relief from their sickness and pain.

However, the Messiah’s primary job is to teach and preach the good news of God’s kingdom: “Repent ye and believe the gospel.” His many miracles serve to confirm his teaching. The teaching was primary; the miracles are secondary. Again, note the great urgency of the Messiah’s mission. He says, “Let’s move on to other places! I want to preach there also. This is why I have come: To preach there also.”

Even as we approach the Lord in our prayers, we can be like the crowds that rushed to Jesus for healing and help. We can forget all about the Word he preaches. We can neglect his teaching as we seek after miracles. There needs to be a careful balance.

We certainly ask for healing and rescue from our problems, but we also need to ask for God’s Word to enter our spirit and soul. We need to have the Holy Spirit create saving faith in our hearts. Be sure and remember to pray for spiritual matters, too, when you approach God in your prayers. Ask for a strong faith in the resurrection of Christ. “Believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead.” Remember to pray for the state of your soul.

Romans 10:8-12, 17:

⁸But what does it say? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. That is the word of faith which we preach.

⁹That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved.

¹⁰For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

¹¹For the scripture says, Whosoever believes in him shall not be ashamed.

¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. For the same Lord over all is rich to all that call upon him.

¹⁷So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Ephesians 3:14-19:

¹⁴For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

¹⁶That God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

¹⁷That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

¹⁸May be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of God’s love in Christ.

¹⁹And to know this love of Christ, which passes all knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.