Jesus Departing to a Solitary Place to Pray - Mark 1:35

Mark wrote as Jesus and his disciples, “were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him”, and in chapter one and verse thirty-five of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus, “departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” where we read:

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out,

and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

The verse reads, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, ...” Mark began with the words, “and in the morning” which means “during the fourth watch of the night which is from three o'clock in the morning until six o'clock in the morning”, “rising up a great while before day” or “raising up and standing an exceedingly long time before night was over and day appeared”, “he went out” which means “Jesus went away and left”. Mark shared how Jesus rose up long before the dawn of the new day and left where His disciples were sleeping.

The verse goes on to say, “... and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark continued with the words, “and departed” which means “and left and went away” “into a solitary place” which means “into a lonely, desolate, uninhabited desert place”, “and prayed there” which means “and supplicated, worshiped and made prayers in that place”. Mark shared Jesus' purpose for going to a “solitary” place was to “pray”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus separated Himself from His disciples and other to be alone to “pray” to God His Heavenly Father. It is interesting to note that He did this “early in the morning” before anyone else was awake and stirring. We also recall how He went to an “uninhabited place” so He could be alone. Those who follow Jesus should learn the value of separating others to talk with God, and those who have not received Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” can have confidence that Jesus is “praying” so they can be “saved” from their “sins” and receive “everlasting life”.

Next time Mark shares how, “Simon and they that were with him followed after him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".