Mark 1:35-39 35And after rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he left and went out to an isolated place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him eagerly searched for him, 37and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38And he said to them, “Let us go on elsewhere to the next towns, in order that I may preach there also, for that is why I go out.” 39And he went preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons.
This brief story provides insight into the importance of prayer for Jesus. Luke’s parallel does not mention prayer, and Matthew omits the incident altogether. The passage reveals Jesus’ habit of prayer. Mark reveals two significant factors about how Jesus prayed on this occasion. First, he got up at the crack of dawn or even before that. Mark uses a word that can be translated as “night” or dark. Likely, the sun was not even up yet. Everyone else was sleeping. Second, he went out to the wilderness, away from the town and people. He wanted to be alone to pray with his Heavenly Father. Why did he withdraw to such a place and at such a time, away from the busyness of healing? We cannot know for sure, but other similar accounts in the Gospels indicate that this communion time with the Father was crucial to Jesus and gave him direction and inspiration.
Simon and the others were looking all over for him. They did not yet know about his habit of early morning prayer. Why were they looking for him? Mark does not tell us, but human nature is curious and sometimes desperate. These new disciples interrupt one of the crucial aspects of Jesus’ ministry. This hints at their misplaced priorities and provides a prelude to their confusion highlighted later in this Gospel. Those closest to Jesus who should have known him did not understand him yet. It would take the cross, resurrection, and Pentecost to begin even to realize his significance.
Jesus had other people to seek and to save and so directs the disciples to go with him to other towns. Verse 38 gives a big statement for Simon, Andrew, James, and John. This required that they would need to leave their families, homes, and livelihood. Jesus also states his mission in this verse: to preach. He continued his two-part mission of preaching and healing, which specifically involved casting out demons. The Gospels record that Jesus prayed before important decisions and events. This occasion was significant because Jesus was taking his new disciples with him. He was asking them to join in his mission. He provides a model to us of habitual prayer and also prayer before important new activities.
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