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Reading through the Gospels 43

Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44

 

Mark 1:35-39, Luke 4:42-44 JESUS PREACHES IN GALILEE

Jesus went to a desolate place to pray early in the morning while it was still dark. This should be a good example for me to do the same. To rise during the early morning dark hours before everyone else is up would take away distractions, just as going to a desolate place would remove distractions. A "desolate place" by definition is one without people, a solitary place. There are other Bible verses about praying alone. Jesus makes less time for sleep and more time for prayer, putting prayer as a priority. A busy life should not keep me from prayer, but lead to more of a need for prayer. Even Jesus took time out to keep a relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. My reactions to being interrupted do not match His. I find myself getting irritated and flustered, yet He just went with the flow and stayed focused on His purpose for being there.

 

Simon and others searched for Jesus and finally found Him. Jesus indicates that He "came out" (to pray) before going to the next towns. This should be a good example for me to do the same to pray before I travel or pray before I begin a task or ministry.

 

Scripture says he went "throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons." Why did He only preach in the synagogues? Was it safer for him to only preach and heal in the synagogues. Was Jesus feeling threatened already? He would have been welcomed to preach in the churches. In this one verse, many days and weeks must have transpired.

 

In Luke we read that the people sought Jesus and did not want him to leave them, but Jesus indicated that He had a purpose [a ministry], to preach the good news and the kingdom of God to other towns as well [not just the good news]. The Kingdom of God is already here for me because the Holy Spirit lives in my heart, but also in the future when Jesus returns. He went to the synagogues of Judea. Galilee and Judea are on the same side of the Jordan River.

Copyright Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke
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