Pray First – Always

January 10, 2025

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT

Mark’s gospel tells about the rigorous schedule and ministry of Jesus. Everywhere He went there were people with tremendous needs. They gathered in droves to hear Him preach, to be healed, to be miraculously fed, and even witness the incredible expulsion of demons. The news spread through the whole area of Galilee quickly. You know how it is for you when everywhere you look there is another job to be done. Imagine it for Jesus. Everywhere, people wanted Him. Everywhere, there were needs no one else could meet. Mark 1 tells us that one night after a full day of healing, teaching, and walking, then going to synagogue, He went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law who was near death. She was healed so completely that she got up and fixed Jesus and His disciples dinner.

But He wasn’t finished yet. After sunset (yes, after sunset!) many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus, and the “whole town gathered to watch.” Jesus healed scores and cast out many demons before the group dispersed and He had an opportunity to rest. Yet this is where we read in Mark 1:35, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated pray to pray.”

Why did He do that? Was He supernaturally recharged? No. He had a human body with all its limitations. Was the bed not comfy? Probably not to us, but He was accustomed to sleeping out (“no place to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20) or on the hospitality of others. He was used to sleeping in ways that would not be good for our day but worked for Him. Did He get up for breakfast with everyone else? No. He was the first one up. Mark tells us later that Peter and the guys went looking for Him because when they got up, the crowds were already there, searching for the Rabbi.

Why did He get up early? Because He knew that day would be more of the same, full of challenges and needs. He was going to be traveling, teaching, and representing His Father. He wouldn’t go into that without praying first. Jesus prayed continually, and we see over and over that prayer was His priority over activity. He loved people deeply, but if you asked Jesus to name His first priority, He would not have said “loving people,” “preaching the gospel,” “reaching out to the poor and marginalized.” All of these were critical to His mission, but the very first priority was the foundation of His life and ministry – staying connected to the Father. He didn’t act first and then ask the Father to bless what He had done. He communicated with His Father first, and then acted from what He received. He always prayed first. If we live like Him, we will too.

• How is your prayer life and commitment to obey what you receive going to change?