“VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING!”

 Mark 1:35-39                            (ESV)

JESUS Preaches in Galilee

“[35] And rising “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING”, while it was still dark, HE departed and went out to a desolate place, and there HE prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with HIM searched for HIM, [37] and they found HIM and said to HIM, “EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU.” [38] And HE said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” [39] And HE went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

These verses give an extremely vivid depiction of being CHOSEN!  JESUS, THE CREATOR (Colossians 1:16), had arisen “very early in the morning, while it was still dark” to go to a “desolate” place to commune with HIS FATHER.  The word “desolate” indicates the place where HE went was “deserted” free from distractions!  Why did JESUS seclude HIMSELF from ALL DISTRACTIONS in order to communicate with HIS FATHER, which JESUS proclaimed in John 10:30 “I and the FATHER are ONE”?  While HE and the FATHER ARE ONE, our “unbelieving” eyes needed to SEE an example of what we SHOULD be doing, not just doing what we thought needed to be done!

Why is it that this particular time JESUS prayed “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING”, apparently before others were awake to DISTRACT HIM?  When JESUS was in Gethsemane before HIS arrest, HE was praying AT NIGHT! HIS acts were performed to display to HIS followers how they needed to react when the time came!  

How sad is it that this humble servant has to EXPERIENCE the depths of solitude rather than having Scripture OPEN my EYES to TRUTH!  JESUS arose “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING” for our benefit, to OPEN our EYES to the necessity of steering our vessels through the storms of “this world”!  You would think that I would SEE more clearly the NEED to COMMUNE with THE FATHER “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING”???