Page 42 - Living Light Spring 2024

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Cara Grant and are based on Mark 1:35-39, Luke 5:12-16 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
2 Kings 19:9-37 and Acts 10
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with
his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 15Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Sunday April 14 - Time out with God
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed. Mark 1:35
This week, we see how ‘solitary prayer’ – ‘alone-time’ with God – deepens our relationship with our heavenly Father and feeds our faith. Jesus role-models ‘solitary prayer’ in today’s verse: he gets up before dawn, moves quietly through the darkened house; lifts the latch and steps out into the chill night air...
The previous day was busy – Jesus had preached and healed all day, and into the night. Yet, though tired, prayer is his top priority – so he leaves the sleeping household for a ‘solitary place’, to pray. There is no other way to have undisturbed time, listening and speaking with his loving Father God.
We don’t know what Jesus prayed that morning, but we know from recorded prayers that Jesus’ ministry was shaped, and that he was ‘fed’ spiritually, during these intimate conversations with his Father; “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” he once told his disciples, when they were urging him to eat some food (John 4:32). We also know that, by sunrise, Jesus knew God’s will – he was certain what needed to happen next.
Private prayer time with God was no casual accessory to Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, but a vital necessity, and a joy... and it can be for us too! Where can our ‘solitary place’ of prayer be today?
40
Father, please help me to ring-fence my ‘alone-times’ with you. As you speak to me in your Word, please stir my heart with your great love, to live and love like you. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY