Sayre Woods Bible Church

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. (1:35)

Today begins our reading in the gospel of Mark. Mark is the shortest of the gospels and many believe it was the first one written (around 50 AD). “Mark” refers to John Mark who accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey but then abruptly left them to return to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 13:13). Apparently either before or after this event, John Mark became closely associated with the apostle Peter and wrote this gospel from Peter’s perspective, perhaps even using Peter’s preaching as the basis for his writing. Mark pictures Jesus primarily as a Servant who ”did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45).

Mark 1:35 was a good reminder for me this morning. It is so easy to get off track in the Christian life or to look for some kind of spiritual “shortcut” to maturity. But, in the end, Christian growth and maturity come through daily discipline and practice. There are no shortcuts. 

From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus set an example for us. Each morning, despite the growing pressures and popularity of His ministry, He got up, left the house, went off to a solitary place, and prayed. Four actions, each with an intent and a purpose.

He got up. That in itself is a challenge some mornings! Because He had a purpose, Jesus did not linger in bed. He disciplined Himself to get up. He left the house and went off to a solitary place. He purposely withdrew from others. Before we face people, we need to face God. Our attitudes just are not right until we set our minds on God and seek the filling of His Spirit. Finally, Jesus prayed. He sought God’s direction and strength for the day. He got His marching orders before He entered the battle.

And Mark makes it very clear that Jesus did not have time to do all this. His life was not the life of a monk, isolated from the demands of life and free to slot out large chunks of time to solitary devotion. Jesus, from the beginning of His ministry, was swamped with the needs, demands, and desires of people. And ministering to people takes time and energy. There is no way around it. Thus Jesus made a point to withdraw, early in the morning, and then when His popularity grew to the point that He could not even enter a town without being mobbed with people, Jesus intentionally found time during the day to withdraw to “lonely places” (1:45).

I think of the car for myself. Instead of turning on the radio, many times I find that driving in the car is the ideal time to “withdraw” from the noise of this world and commune with God. We all need this time. The challenge is finding it. It is there but we have to intentionally look for it and make it a priority in our day.

Jesus’ life had balance–time with God and time with people, moments of prayer and moments of ministry, times of solitude and times of busyness.

Lord, help me to find the same balance in my life!