DAY FOUR:  The Messiah’s Inspiration

Please carefully read Mark 1:35-39 and answer the following questions.

1.  Despite a long night of ministry, what did Jesus do (v. 35)?

2.  The Greek phrase here indicates He was praying through the early morning hours, prolonged prayer in this secluded place. The use of the term “wilderness” or “solitary place” was the same used to describe the place of Jesus’ temptation; perhaps this too was a point of spiritual testing for Him, as the other two crucial times Mark records of Him praying at the middle (6:46) and end (14:35-39) of His ministry.[xi]  What happened though as Jesus sought this precious time alone, seeking inspiration, strength and wisdom from His Father (v. 36)?  What did they say when they found Him (v. 37)? 

NOTE:  The Greek phrasing used by Mark indicates they were hunting for Him, thus the Amplified Bible adds, “...pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out.” 

3.  At this point it seems that Jesus had discerned that the motives of the mobs may have been wrong.  How did He respond to Peter and those with him, no doubt to their surprise (v. 38)?

4.  How did they press on from there (v. 39)?

5.  Jesus’ statement “Let us go...” is a verb form meaning “Let us get going and keep going,” emphasizing all the things that lay ahead of Him yet to accomplish.  He was gaining fame and notoriety there in Capernaum, but knew this took Him away from His true purpose, even though leaving this place was less attractive.[xii]  Jesus’ time spent with the Father in prayer redirected Him back to the task at hand.  Jesus would later have great problems with many in the multitudes that had wrong motives for seeking Him.  What did John’s Gospel record about this (John 2:23-25; 6:22-27)?

Scripture Memory:  Try to fill in the missing words in the blanks below, by memory if at all possible, and then review the passage several times today.

Then Jesus, ______________ with _______________________, stretched out His _____________ and __________________ him, and said to him, "I am ___________________________; be ______________________."  Mark 1:41, nkjv