He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” (Mark 1:38 NAS95)
The compassion of God made itself clear through the early ministry of Jesus. He even challenged traditional religious thinking and practice in order to demonstrate the heart of the Kingdom of God. The people listened to His words, what He proclaimed concerning God and His Kingdom. They also witnessed a compassionate Jesus bring wholeness and healing to people. Jesus knew God and clearly demonstrated God’s desire to renew and restore all things. As a result, early in His ministry, wherever He went, the crowds came. Jesus knew fellowship with His Father had an essential role in keeping in step with His desires.
So in the midst of a flourishing ministry, in which the distraction to simply meet the needs of the people could capture Jesus’ full attention, He prayed. In fact, Jesus communed with His Father, regularly for extended periods, as a habit. Jesus never lost focus as a result. He knew the flavor and the future of the Kingdom of God. He also knew people needed to hear and see. As demand for Jesus grew, His heart for communion with His Father deepened. He entered prayer out of deep desire (Mk 1:35), and He concluded it with renewed purpose. He knew proclaiming the gospel of God engendered a sense of welcome and invitation to enter the Kingdom. He understood meeting people’s needs or demands has temporal significance, but renewing their heart for God and living under His Kingdom rule has transformative impact for today as well as eternity. Prayer kept Jesus in step with God’s purposes. I want to follow in His footsteps.
For Reflection:
“I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”” (Psalms 40:8 NAS95)
- In what ways do other purposes in your life get confused with the purposes and desires of God? How often does your prayer consider what God desires?
- When has success or something like that distracted you from God and His desires/plans? What happened when you brought this to prayer?
