Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 45

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:45 “But he went out, and began to publish [it] much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

publish it much... Only Mark records the cleansed leper’s disobedience, although Luke hints at it (Luke 5:15). Proclaim or preach, as in Mark 1:4, 1:7, 1:14, 1:38, 1:39. This verse is additional to Mat. 8:4. Even though it was a good thing for him to tell people, it was in disobedience to Christ (cp. 1Sam. 15:22-23).

no more openly... This will again be normal in the life of anyone who does the works of Christ (John 14:12). The result of the leper’s disobedience was that Jesus could no longer enter a city without being mobbed by those seeking to be cured of diseases. Jesus’ ministry of teaching in that area thus came to a halt.

the city

Properly, as Rev., a city; any city.

In desert places... Jesus kept to the relatively uninhabited regions to allow the excitement over His cure of the leper to die down. Luke also notes that He used His time in the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16). The healing of man’s sin-infected soul is therefore far more important than the healing of his body. The people’s enthusiasm over miracles hinders Jesus’ freedom to preach, causing Him to remain in the desert places.

they came to... Kept coming to Him for days (Mark 2:1). This incident of the cleansed leper justifies Jesus’ decision to emphasize preaching instead of healing. The leper’s disobeying Jesus’ command to inform no one but the priest of his healing indicates that although he was cleansed physically, he remained un-cleansed inwardly spiritually.

We can easily see why Jesus did not want the man to spread the news of his cleansing of leprosy. Jesus, now, could have no privacy at all and especially in the city. Anyone who had an illness of any kind came to Him. He was overwhelmed by the masses of people surrounding Him, and He fled into the desert. Even in the desert they came to Him from every direction.

We know that Jesus healed so many, that if all the healings were written down there would not have been enough books in all the world to contain them.

His followers also are to possess a religion that is vitalizing, to be the light of the world, and the salt of the earth.

If we are thus to further His cause, we must not only be zealous but obedient. Jesus strictly charged the leper not to fan the flame of an excitement which already impeded His work. But there was an invaluable service which he might render: the formal registration of his cure, the securing its official recognition by the priests, and their consent to offer the commanded sacrifices. In many a subsequent controversy, that testimony unto them might have been embarrassing indeed. But the leper lost his opportunity and put them upon their guard. And as through his impulsive clamor Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but even in desert places was beset by excited crowds, so is He deprived today of many a tranquil ministration and lowly service, by the zeal which despises order and quiet methods, by the undisciplined and ill-judged demonstrations of men and women whom He has blessed.

Instead of obeying Jesus’ command to silence, the man went out and began to talk freely (lit., to proclaim kēryssein it much), making known the story of his cure far and wide. Mark did not say whether he obeyed Jesus’ command to show himself to the priest.

As a result, Jesus’ preaching ministry in the synagogues of Galilee (cf. Mark 1:39) was interrupted. He could not enter a town openly without encountering large crowds seeking special favors. Even when He withdrew to lonely erēmois, uninhabited, remote; cf. Mark 1:35 places… the people kept coming from all directions.

The deliverance Jesus brought transcended the Mosaic Law and its regulations. Though the Law provided for the ritual purification of a leper, it was powerless to cleanse a person from the disease or to effect inward spiritual renewal.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 44

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:44 “And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

say nothing to... See, Mat. 8:4. It was unlawful to touch any unclean person as it made the one touching also unclean (Lev. 5:1-14; 15:5-27). There is no record of Christ going through ceremonial cleansings every time He touched sick people. This would be an impossibility, for it took a day to become clean (Lev. 15:5-27). Also, if He healed people every day, He would be going through ceremonial cleansing all the time. In many things Christ set aside the law, proving that He considered it a dead thing and ready to be abolished (Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:19-25; 4:21-31; 2Cor. 3:6-15). The ensuing publicity would hinder Jesus’ ability to minister as in fact happened, verse 45, and divert attention away from His message (3:12; 5:43; 7:36; see on Mat. 8:4).

shew thyself to... The priest was the one on duty at the temple. Jesus commanded the healed leper to observe the Old Testament regulations concerning cleansed lepers (Lev. 14-32). Until the required offerings had been made, the man remained ceremonially unclean.

which Moses commanded... Moses is mentioned eight times in Mark (Mar. 1:44; 7:10; 9:3-4; 10:3-4; 12:19, 12:26). And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. Moses had been dead over 1,700 years and his body was then in corruption (Deut. 34:1-12; Jude 1:9). He evidently was brought up from paradise below the earth (see, Luke 16:21-31). This is an example of full consciousness and of a soul wearing clothes between death and resurrection (Rev. 6:9-11; Heb. 12:23; Psm. 16:10). Christ had not yet become the firstfruits of all that had died, so Moses could not have had a resurrected body (1Cor. 15:20-23).

Moses and Elijah Sent to Confirm:

1. The abolition of the law (Mat. 11:11-13; Luke 16:16; Gal. 3:19-25; 4:21-31; 2Cor. 3:6-15; Col. 2:14-17)

2. The fulfillment of prophecies of the sufferings of Messiah (Luke 24:25-27, 24:44-45; John 1:45; Acts 13:29-41)

3. Christ as the Messiah, the sole authority from God and the Mediator between God and man (Acts 3:22-23; Heb. 1:1-2; 1Tim. 2:5)

4. The reality and consciousness of departed spirits (Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 6:9-11; Heb. 12:23; Eph. 4:8-10)

5. The immortality of the soul (1Pet. 3:4; 4:6; Psm. 16:10; Luke 20:38)

6. The second coming, rewards and punishments (Mat. 16:27; 24:29-25:46)

7. Physical resurrection (Mat. 17:9; John 5:28-29; 1Cor. 15:1-58; Rev. 20:4-15)

8. The reality of the future eternal kingdom (Mat. 16:28; 17:1-9; Rev. 5:10; 11:15; 20:1-10)

Elijah, not yet dead, had then been living in heaven in his earthly body for nearly 1000 years (2Kgs. 2:1-25; Mal. 4:5-6; Zec. 4:11-14; Rev. 11:3-11).

a testimony unto... The priest’s acceptance of the man’s offering would be public affirmation of his cure and cleansing.

Jesus had told him to show himself to the priest. The priest had to examine him and declare him clean before he could move freely among his people. The man was to give an offering suitable in the temple as the Law of Moses had specified.

This ceremony took place without the camp, and the offering was two living birds (clean), cedar wood, scarlet wool, hyssop, two he lambs, one ewe lamb, three tenth deals of flour mingled with oil, and one log of oil. To read more about this, look in the book of Leviticus.

The touch of a leper made a Jew unclean. And there is a surprising theory, that when Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, it was because the leper had disobediently published what implied His ceremonial defilement. As if our Lord were one to violate the law by stealth.

A more satisfactory view is that Jesus wanted to avoid misunderstandings that would precipitate a premature and/or erroneous popular response to Him (cf. comments on Mark 11:28). He did not want His identity declared till He had made the character of His mission clear (cf. see 8:30; 9:9). Thus, there was a progressive withdrawal of the veil from His identity until He openly declared it (Mark 14:62; cf. Mark 12:12).

Second, Jesus instructed the former leper to show himself to the priest, who alone could declare him ritually clean, and to offer the sacrifices prescribed by Moses (cf. Lev. 14:2-31).

This demand is qualified by the phrase as eis, for a testimony to them. This phrase could be understood in a positive sense a convincing witness or negative sense an incriminating witness to either the people in general or the priests in particular. In this context, as in the two other occurrences of this phrase (Mark 6:11; 13:9), the negative sense is preferred. Thus testimony means an item of proof which can serve as incriminating evidence (cf. TDNT, s.v. “martys,” 4:502-4) and them refers to the priests.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 43

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:43 “And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;”

he straitly charged... Implies that Jesus was for some reason angry or irritated, as does the vivid sent him away, the same verb (as in verse 12). Perhaps Jesus was indignant at the outrage of mankind’s sickness and suffering, affronts to a loving God’s power to redeem His creation from all that is tainted by the imperfect and ultimately evil.

Strictly charged (ἐμβριμησάμενος)

Rev., sternly, in margin. The word is originally to snort, as of mettlesome horses. Hence, to fret, or chafe, or be otherwise strongly moved; and then, as a result of this feeling, to admonish or rebuke urgently. The Lord evidently spoke to him peremptorily. Compare sent him out ἐξέβαλεν; lit., drove or cast him out. The reason for this charge and dismissal lay in the desire of Jesus not to thwart his ministry by awaking the premature violence of his enemies, who, if they should see the leper and hear his story before he had been officially pronounced clean by the priest, might deny either that he had been a leper or had been truly cleansed.

Jesus sent the cleansed man away. Jesus told the man not to tell anyone of his healing, but the gratitude of the man being brought back as it were from the dead, was too great. He told everyone he saw.

But is it very remarkable that Christ, Who was born under the law, never betrayed any anxiety about cleanness. The law of impurity was in fact an expression of human frailty. Sin spreads corruption far more easily than virtue diffuses purity. The touch of goodness fails to reproduce goodness. And the prophet Haggai has laid stress upon this contrast, that bread or pottage or wine or oil or any meat will not become holy at the touch of one who bears holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, but if one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, it shall be unclean (Hag. 2:12-13). Our hearts know full well how true to nature is the ordinance.

But Christ brought among us a virtue more contagious than our vices are, being not only a living soul, but a life-imparting Spirit. And thus He lays His hand upon this leper, upon the bier at Nain, upon the corpse of the daughter of Jairus, and as fire is kindled at the touch of fire, so instead of pollution to Him, the pureness of healthful life is imparted to the defiling and defiled.

The forceful words sent him away (exebalen; cf. Mark 1:12), at once (euthys; cf. Mark 1:10), and a strong warning (cf. Mark 14:5) emphasize the need for prompt obedience to the instructions in Mark 1:44.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 42

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:42 “And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

immediately the leprosy... What could cleanse a man of such disease in a moment aside from God’s power? If God can and will do this for a stranger, will He not do this for a child?

This was not a gradual healing, but a sudden complete healing.

But the charm of this delightful incident is the manner in which our Lord grants the impassioned prayer. We might have expected a shudder, a natural recoil from the loathsome spectacle, and then a wonder-working word. But misery which He could relieve did not repel Jesus; it attracted Him. His impulse was to approach. He not only answered I will, -- and deep is the will to remove all anguish in the wonderful heart of Jesus, -- but He stretched forth an unshrinking hand, and touched that death in life. It is a parable of all His course, this laying of a clean hand on the sin of the world to cleanse it. At His touch, how was the morbid frame thrilled with delightful pulses of suddenly renovated health. And how was the despairing, joyless heart, incredulous of any real will to help him, soothed and healed by the pure delight of being loved.

This is the true lesson of the narrative. St. Mark treats the miraculous cure much more lightly than the tender compassion and the swift movement to relieve suffering. And he is right. The warm and generous nature revealed by this fine narrative is what, as we have seen, most impresses the doubter, and ought most to comfort the Church. For He is the same yesterday and today. And perhaps, if the divinity of love impressed men as much as that of power, there would be less denial of the true Godhead of our Lord.

Both this symbolic touch (cf. Mark 7:33; 8:22) and Jesus’ authoritative pronouncement - I am willing (pres. tense), be clean (aorist pass., decisive act received) - constituted the cure. It was immediate euthys; cf. Mark 1:10, complete, visible to all who saw him.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 41

The Cleansing of a Leper

Mark 1:41 “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

moved with compassion... An additional detail to Mat. 8:3. Characteristic of God and Christ and should be of believers. Compassion is that drawing and agitation of the innermost parts at the sight of any distressed or miserable object. It causes revolting action in the innermost being to bring deliverance from such unlawful and inhuman misery and suffering. Used nine times of Christ (Mat. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 5:19; 6:34; 8:2; Luke 7:13). See Mat. 9:36. Only Mark records Jesus’ emotional reaction to the leper’s desperate plight. The Greek word appears only in the synoptic gospels and (apart from parables) is used only in reference to Jesus.

and touched him... First of eight cases Jesus touched in healing people (Mat. 8:3, 8:15; 9:29; 17:7; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 7:33; Luke 5:13; 7:14; 22:51). Many others touched Him and were healed (Mat. 9:21; 14:36; Mark 3:10; 5:28; 6:56; 8:22; Luke 6:19). See, Mat. 8:3. Unlike rabbis, who avoided lepers lest they become ceremonially defiled, Jesus expressed His compassion with a physical gesture.

Jesus is moved with compassion to help. Mark’s picture of Jesus is not of an unmoved problem-solver sweeping serenely and unemotionally from incident to incident (see Heb. 4:15).

I will; be... God never did say No to any child of His who came to Him in faith and who asked according to the promises, and He never will. Every case of unanswered prayer in Scripture was one which could not be granted for reasons always given. It was something which did not concern anything God had promised or could have done and be just. The love that Jesus has for each of us is so far beyond what we can even comprehend that it is easy to understand the love He showed to this man of such great faith. Just one touch of the Master’s hand, and he was clean of leprosy, the most dreaded, incurable disease of that day.

Moved by compassion splanchnistheis, having deep pity, Jesus… touched the untouchable and cured the incurable. His touch showed that Jesus was not bound by Rabbinic regulations regarding ritual defilement. Both this symbolic touch (cf. Mark 7:33; 8:22) and Jesus’ authoritative pronouncement - I am willing pres. tense, be clean aorist pass., decisive act received - constituted the cure.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 40

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:40 “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

Leper: Lepers were considered ceremonially unclean and were outcasts from society (Lev. 13:11). While the Old Testament term for leprosy included other skin diseases, this man may have actually had true leprosy (Hanson’s Disease), or else his cure would not have created such a sensation (verse 45).

The leper assumes a respectful, if plaintive, posture. His beseeching is not based on Jesus’ ability but on His willingness.

Leprosy was a dreaded disease. These people were not even allowed to be near the rest of the community. This man was taking his life in his own hands to get to Jesus. The thing that would help him with Jesus was his great faith and humility.

He did not doubt that Jesus could heal him. He said to Jesus, If you will, you can heal me. Sometimes sin is spoken of as spiritual leprosy. Jesus is the healer of physical or spiritual leprosy.

If thou wilt... Few if any doubt the ability of God, but many doubt the willingness and love of God to do all things for His children today. The reason Christ healed this man, and all others was because it was the will of God. He did nothing that was not the will of God (note, John 8:28).

The disease of leprosy was peculiarly fearful to a Jew. In its stealthy beginning, its irresistible advance, the utter ruin which it wrought from the blood outward until the flesh was corroded and fell away, it was a fit type of sin, at first so trivial in its indications, but gradually usurping all the nature and corrupting it. And the terrible fact, that the children of its victims were also doomed, reminded the Israelite of the transmission of the taint of Adam.

The story of Naaman and that of Gehazi make it almost certain that the leprosy of Scripture was not contagious, for they were intimate with kings. But, apparently to complete the type, the law gave to it the artificial contagion of ceremonial uncleanness and banished the unhappy sufferer from the dwellings of men. Thus he came to be regarded as under an especial ban, and the prophecy which announced that the illustrious Man of Sorrows would be esteemed "stricken of God," was taken to mean that He should be a leper. This banishment of the leper was indeed a remarkable exception to the humanity of the ancient law, but when his distress began to be extreme, and "the plague was turned into white," he was released from his uncleanness (Lev. 13:17). And this may teach us that sin is to be dreaded most while it is yet insidious; when developed it gives a sufficient warning against itself. And now such a sufferer appeals to Jesus. The incident is one of the most pathetic in the Gospel; and its graphic details, and the shining character which it reveals, make it very perplexing to moderate and thoughtful skeptics.

The Cleansing of a Leper

On Jesus’ Galilean tour, a man with leprosy came to Him a bold move for a leper. Leprosy included a variety of serious skin diseases ranging from ringworm to true leprosy Hanson’s bacillus, a progressively disfiguring disease. This man experienced a pitiful existence due not only to the physical ravages of the disease but also to ritual uncleanness (cf. Lev. 13-14) and exclusion from society. Leprosy brought anguish at all levels: physical, mental, social, and religious. It serves as an illustration of sin.

The Rabbis regarded leprosy as humanly incurable. Only twice does the Old Testament record that God cleansed a leper (Num. 12:10-15; 2Kgs. 5:1-14). Yet this leper was convinced that Jesus could cleanse him. Without presumption If You are willing and without doubting Jesus’ ability You can make me clean, he humbly begged Jesus to heal him.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 39

 Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Mark 1:39 “And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”

Throughout all Galilee... Mark’s terse statement summarizes a preaching tour that must have lasted for weeks, or even months (Matt. 4:23-24).

This summary statement characterizes the scope all Galilee and activity preaching, primarily, casting out demons, secondarily, of Jesus’ ministry.

His explanatory statement, that to preach is why I have come, probably does not refer to leaving Capernaum He left to pray, (Mark 1:35) but rather to His coming from God on a divine mission. His purpose was to proclaim the good news of God (Mark 1:14) and confront people with the demand to repent and believe it (Mark 1:15). Since the Capernaum crowds sought Him as a Miracle-worker, He deliberately departed to preach elsewhere.

Mark 1:39 summarizes His tour throughout Galilee (cf. Mark 1:28) which probably lasted several weeks (cf. Mat. 4:23-25). His main activity was preaching (cf. Mark 1:14-15) in the local synagogues, and His driving out ekballōn; cf. Mark 1:34 demons dramatically confirmed His message.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 38

 Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Mark 1:38 “And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.”

towns (κωμοπόλεις)

Lit., village-towns, suburban towns.

came I forth... Christ came to do 32 things:

1. To save from sins (Mat. 1:21).

2. To be King of the Jews (John 18:37).

3. To fulfill the law (Mat. 5:17).

4. To call sinners to repentance (Mat. 9:13; Luke 5:32; 13:1-5).

5. To bring division (Mat. 10:34-36).

6. To give rest (Mat. 11:28-30).

7. To save from destruction (Luke 9:56).

8. To give life for the church (Eph. 5:26).

9. To redeem from iniquity (Tit. 2:14).

10. To seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

11. To make a new covenant (Mat. 26:28; Heb. 8:6; 9:15).

12. To put away sin (Heb. 9:26).

13. To suffer for people (John 12:27; 1Pet. 3:18; 4:1-2).

14. To ransom people (Mat. 20:28; 1Tim. 2:6).

15. To preach and heal (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Mark 1:38-39; Mat. 4:23-24).

16. To save the world not condemn it (John 3:16-18; 12:27).

17. To send fire on earth (Luke 12:49).

18. To be salvation (1Tim. 1:15).

19. To baptize in the Holy Spirit (Mat. 3:11; John 1:31-33; 7:37-39).

20. To deliver from evil (Gal. 1:4).

21. To bring judgment (John 9:39).

22. To give abundant life (John 10:10).

23. To bear sickness (Mat. 8:17; 1Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:1-12).

24. To be a light to the world (John 12:46).

25. To give eternal life (Joh. 17:3).

26. To minister to people (Mat. 20:28).

27. To bring grace and truth (John 1:17).

28. To do God’s will (John 6:38).

29. To destroy Satan’s work (1Jhn. 3:8).

30. To be an example (1Pet. 1:21).

31. To die for sins (1Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:4).

32. To purify unto Himself a peculiar people (Tit. 2:14). See, Luke 5:32.

We know that Jesus did heal and deliver people, but this was not His purpose in coming to the earth. Back in Capernaum there was a group wanting Him to minister to their bodily needs, but Jesus’ purpose in coming was to save their souls.

Many times there are physical blessings from Jesus, but His most important role is to renew our spirit in Him. To save our souls from death is Jesus’ purpose.

Jesus’ reply showed that they too did not understand Him or His mission. His plan was to go elsewhere - to the nearby villages, populous market towns, so that He could preach (cf. Mark 1:4, 1:14) there also, in addition to Capernaum. His explanatory statement, that to preach is why I have come, probably does not refer to leaving Capernaum He left to pray, Mark 1:35 but rather to His coming from God on a divine mission. His purpose was to proclaim the good news of God (Mark 1:14) and confront people with the demand to repent and believe it (Mark 1:15). Since the Capernaum crowds sought Him as a Miracle-worker, He deliberately departed to preach elsewhere.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 37

 Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Verses 37-38: The disciples bring news of human need. All men seek for thee, not to hear the gospel, but for viewing His miracles or to be healed physically. Perhaps even at that early hour, people were already gathering to see Jesus.

The decision Jesus has reached by prayer is to go into the next towns, in order to preach there also; He has chosen to pursue the unpopular course and keep the emphasis of His work on preaching the gospel. Why? Because, He says, therefore came I forth from heaven: to preach. Jesus’ response implicitly involves the disciples in their first mission tour.

Mark 1:37 “And when they had found him, they said unto him, All [men] seek for thee.”

Finding Jesus after a diligent search (verse 36), Peter and the others excitedly implored Him to return to Capernaum and capitalize on the excitement generated by the previous night’s healings.

We see by this that Jesus already had an overwhelming following. This following was not because of His message however, but so that they might receive something of Him.

All men seek... What a contrast between Him and His modern followers who constantly seek crowds to fill their churches.

All

All the people of Capernaum, all are seeking thee. The continuous present tense. So, Rev., better than A. V. The all is peculiar to Mark.

Such is the sane and tranquil action of Jesus, in face of the excitement caused by His many miracles. Now the miracles themselves, and all that depends on them, are declared to be the creation of the wildest fanaticism, either during His lifetime or developing His legend afterwards.

Their exclamation, everyone is looking for You! implied some annoyance because they thought Jesus was failing to capitalize on some excellent opportunities in Capernaum.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 36

 Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Mark 1:36 “And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.”

Simon and they... The first instance in the gospels of Peter’s assuming of leadership. Those with Peter are not revealed, though Andrew, James and John were likely among them.

Followed is somewhat weak; they were at pains to track Jesus down in His retreat.

Followed after (κατεδίωξαν)

The word found only in Mark. Simon and his companions, as well as the people of the city, seem to have been afraid lest he should have permanently left them. Hence the compound verb indicates that they followed him eagerly; pursued him as if he were fleeing from them. Simon, true to his nature, was foremost in the pursuit: Simon, and they that were with him.

The crowds, returning to Simon’s door and expecting to find Jesus, discovered He was gone.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 35

 Jesus Preaches in Galilee

Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

rising up a... A divine supplement to Mat. 8:17. This was no doubt a habit with Him (Mat. 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 6:12; 9:28; 11:1).

Mark emphasizes that it was a great while before day. Showing that Jesus began each day of His earthly ministry with prayer is only the secondary intention of this verse. The primary aim is to show how Jesus made important decisions: by earnest, persistent prayer.

A great while before day (ἔννυχα)

Lit., while it was in the night. The word is peculiar to Mark.

Here Jesus stands at the crossroads of decision: His first year of public preaching (verses 9-20), has borne little visible fruit. But His miracles of healing are drawing huge crowds (verses 31-32) and bringing Him recognition (verse 28).

So, the question is whether He should continue to put the stress of His ministry on the preaching of the gospel for the healing of man’s diseased soul or place the stress of His work on the more popular performing of miracles for the healing of man’s body. To make the proper choice, He seeks by prayer the Father’s wisdom.

This should be a very good message to us. In the quiet of the very early morning, Jesus went to pray, not with others, but alone. We read, be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).

The most precious times with God is in the privacy of just you and God. Praying is fellow shipping with Him. Even Jesus prayed. We should see even more necessity to pray ourselves.

ST. Mark is pre-eminently the historian of Christ’s activities. From him chiefly we learn to add to our thought of perfect love and gentleness that of One whom the zeal of God’s house ate up. But this evangelist does not omit to tell us by what secret fountains this river of life was fed; how the active labors of Jesus were inspired in secret prayers. Too often we allow to one side of religion a development which is not excessive, but disproportionate, and we are punished when contemplation becomes nerveless, or energy burns itself away.

After feeding the five thousand, St. Mark tells us that Jesus, while the storm gathered over His disciples on the lake, went up into a mountain to pray. And St. Luke tells of a whole night of prayer before choosing His disciples, and how it was to pray that He climbed the mountain of transfiguration.

A Withdrawal for Prayer and A Preaching Tour in Galilee

Despite a full day of ministry (Mark 1:21-34), Jesus got up the next morning very early, before daybreak about 4 a.m. and went out to a solitary erēmon, uninhabited, remote place (cf. Mark 1:4) where He spent time praying. He withdrew from the acclaim of the Capernaum crowds to a wilderness place - the kind of place where He initially confronted Satan and withstood his temptations (cf. Mark 1:12-13).

Mark selectively portrayed Jesus at prayer on three crucial occasions, each in a setting of darkness and aloneness: near the beginning of his account (Mark 1:35), near the middle (Mark 6:46), and near the end (Mark 14:32-42). All three were occasions when He was faced with the possibility of achieving His messianic mission in a more attractive, less costly way. But in each case, He gained strength through prayer.