COMMENTARY ON MARK

LESSON NUMBER 16

THE DISEASED AND OPPRESSED

 “ ^{Mark 1:35} And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ³⁶ And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him. ³⁷ And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee. ³⁸ And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. ³⁹ And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.” (Mark 1:35-39)

INTRODUCTION

               We are being exposed to a working Savior – one “who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Because God was “with Him,” we are also being exposed to “the wonderful works of God” – what He was doing among men through His only begotten Son, for Jesus worked “the works of Him that sent” Him (John 9:4). These works were also introductory to His heavenly ministry, which would follow His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. They confirm that Jesus concentrated on doing what no one else could do. Even when He went to a wedding feast with His disciples, He did something that no one else could do, turning water into wine (John 2:9). Also, through the life of Christ we see how the servant of God is dependent upon the Father for power and support. God has never ordained a work or a ministry that could be thoroughly fully accomplished through men alone. Even under the Law, the work of the priests and High Priests was dependent upon God, His provision, acceptance, and guidance. Jesus lived out this kind of life, openly displaying the nature of living by faith, being acceptable to God, and “approved of men” (Rom 14:18). When we read the Gospels with a tender and understanding heart, we will behold the real nature of spiritual life. The “strait” gate and the “narrow” way will become more and more apparent.

A SOLITARY PLACE AND PRAYER

               “ ³⁵ And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

               Our Lord has had a busy day – preaching in the synagogue, delivering a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and healing Peter’s mother-in-law. Then, after the sun had set, he was confronted with the “whole city” gathering at the door of Simon’s house. They had brought many with all kinds of diseases to Him, and He had laid His hands on every one of them, healing them all. Now, what will the Savior do?

               IN THE MORNING. Early the next morning, before the sun had risen, the Savior “got up, and left the house.” ^NIV Referring to this same incident, Luke says “And when it was day, He departed” (Lk 4:42). The word “day” is considered to be the interval between sunrise and sunset. “In the morning” refers to the daybreak, very early in the morning, and a great while before light had filled the skies. Generally speaking, this would be around 6:00 AM. In Jesus the Psalmist’s words were brought to their apex: “in the morning shall my prayer come before You” ^NKJV (Psa 88:13).

               A SOLITARY PLACE. Other versions read, “a lonely place,” ^NASB “a deserted place,” ^NRSV “a quiet place,” ^BBE “a desolate place,” ^ESV “a secluded place,” ^NAU and “into the wilderness.” ^NLT Luke says of this occasion, “He departed and went into a desert place” (Lk 4:42). It was place where no human activity could be found – a haven where the sights and sounds of the world were absent. Matthew speaks of another time when Jesus prayed similarly: “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone” (Mat 14:23). Luke says of yet another occasion, “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).

               Jesus had been among the multitudes for an extended time – first in the synagogue, and then in Simon’s house. If “virtue” went “out of Him” when a single woman with an issue of blood was healed (Mk 5:30), who can dare to imagine the output of virtue on that memorable Sabbath day! There must have been a sort of depletion of His spiritual resources that required Divine refurbishment. This is part of the “weakness” of the flesh, and is a reason why Jesus was “straitened” while He was among men in the flesh (Lk 12:50).

               There are certain distracting influences in the earth, so that the closer we are to it and its inhabitants, the more we need strength from heaven. Those who have an appetite for the things of God, and devote themselves to being built up upon their most holy faith, know very well that the world, even in its lawful involvement, erodes spiritual resources. There comes a time when we must withdraw from all worldly influences, retreating, as it were, to the heavenly sanctuary. Ideally speaking, this is one of the ministries of a godly assembly.

               HE PRAYED. Mark mentions three occasions when Jesus prayed. All of these occurred at critical times. The one we are considering was at the threshold of His ministry, following extensive exposure to the people (1:35). The second was following the feeding of the five thousand, and just before He entered into “the land of Gennesaret,” where He confronted a vast multitude in “villages,” “cities,” and “the country” (Mk 6:46-56). The third was on the night of His betrayal, when He prayed in agony concerning the “cup” He had been given to drink (14:32-42). Luke also tells us Jesus “continued all night in prayer to God” prior to the choosing of the twelve Apostles (Lk 6:12-13).

               There are periods of concentrated and extensive involvement in the work of the Lord – times that are extraordinary, requiring the exercise of godly discretion and choice. Jesus preceded such times with prayer, tuning His heart, as it were, to the heavenly frequency.

               The work of God requires involvement with Him! At no point – not even with the King Himself – is labor for the Lord merely professional, or driven by a certain expertise that is acquired in the earth. Right here is a particularly weak point in the modern American church. Much of what is being done in the name of the Lord does not demand profound and extended fellowship with God and Christ. Outside of the circumference of the “good pleasure of His will” (Eph 1:5), there is no such valid work. God has nothing to do with works that can be done without Him, His power, or faith in Him. He has not purposed any work that can be accomplished independently of Himself.

               If this appears too difficult to receive, it is actually lived out in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke only what He had been “taught” by the Father (John 8:28b). He declared, “I do nothing on My own initiative” ^NASB (John 8:28a), affirming that He came to “work the works of Him that sent Me” (John 5:17). It was this circumstance that compelled Him to often withdraw from the multitudes, resorting to private prayer (John 18:2).

THEY FOLLOWED AFTER HIM

               “ ³⁶ And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him. ³⁷ And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee.”

               SIMON AND THOSE WITH HIM. This would have been the holy conclave of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. These four had been “called” together, had journeyed with Jesus to Capernaum, went into the synagogue with Jesus, and were also with the Master in Simon ‘s house. We know from Luke’s Gospel that the number also included some of the multitude that had gathered at the door of the house: “And when it was day, He departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought Him” (Luke 4:42). It should not surprise us that those who are exposed to the working of the Lord, and take delight in it, are not content to be separated from the Lord.

               FOLLOWED AFTER HIM. The people did not know where Jesus went, for He had apparently not told them. The words “followed after Him” do not suggest they knew precisely where He was, or that they followed close behind Him. We know that from the next clause. Additionally, the word “followed” actually means “searched for.” ^STRONG’S Other versions read “searched for,” ^NKJV “hunted for,” ^NASB “went to look for,” ^NIV and “pursued.” ^RSV

However, we are not confined to mere language for this view. Luke writes, “and the people sought Him” (Lk 4:42).

               Here again we are being exposed to the very nature of God’s “great salvation.” It is one in which the people earnestly seek the Lord. If this occurred before Jesus was crucified, what will be the manner of drawing now that He has been exalted? As it is written, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This he said, signifying what death He should die” (John 12:32-33).

               WHEN THEY HAD FOUND HIM. The diligence of Peter and those with Him was honored: “they found Him.” It is apparent that although Jesus had retreated to a solitary and lonely place, He had not made Himself totally inaccessible to the people. It is the Lord’s manner to “wait, that He may be gracious” (Isa 30:18), not withdrawing into total obscurity. Of old time, the Lord revealed this to be an aspect of His character: “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD” (Jer 29:13-14). Although He spoke for a different reason, Hosea also declared this facet of Divine glory: “I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early” (Hosea 5:15). The people did not find Jesus because they were expert seekers, but because He was gracious!

               ALL MEN SEEK FOR THEE. The unique and powerful nature of Christ’s ministry is revealed in this telling word: “All men seek for Thee!” Other versions read, “Everyone is looking for you!” ^NKJV I do not believe this was ever said of the scribes and Pharisees. Luke provides us an even further detailed account of their request: “and the people sought Him, and came unto Him, and stayed Him, that He should not depart from them” (Luke 4:42). Other versions read, “and tried to keep Him from leaving them.” ^NKJV The idea is that they tried to force Him to stay with them. Thus other versions read, “and tried to prevent Him from leaving them,” ^AMPLIFIED “would have kept Him from going away,” ^BBE and “would have restrained Him, that He should not depart from them.” ^RWB

               How the presence of Jesus jarred the religious community! On another occasion, John records, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone” (John 6:15). Certain officers sent by the Pharisees to snare Jesus confessed, “Never man spake like this Man!” (John 7:46). Earlier, those in the Capernaum synagogue acknowledged, “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt 7:29).

               Light had “sprung up” in that “region,” formerly noted for being an area dominated by “the shadow of death” (Matt 4:16). It was a light with which no comparison could be made. No prophet had ever spoken with such power as Him! No worker of miracles had worked as extensively as He. If God could say of Ezekiel’s ministry, “then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them” (Ezek 33:33), what will be said of the ministry of Ezekiel’s Lord, Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory?

               While it is not appropriate for us to develop an inordinate desire for the sensational and externally impressive, it seems to me that the Lord Jesus should be known for extraordinary deeds. If there is nothing ordinary about Him and His ministry, He should not be associated with such things now. Should the day come in our environment when men earnestly seek after the Lord, or beseech Him not to leave them, it will be because they have sen something uncommon and beneficial in Him. In my judgment, it is right to ask the Lord for such holy associations to be granted in this dry and thirsty time.

THE PREACHING SAVIOR

               “ ³⁸ And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. ³⁹ And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”

               What will Jesus do in response to this plea to remain with the people? Will He set up a ministry in the solitary place in which He was praying, receiving the people and ministering to them? Here, we will be exposed to the very purpose of God, by which our Lord was strictly governed. He will proceed to fulfill the will of His Father.

               GOING TO THE NEXT TOWNS. Mark’s text suggests these words were said to His disciples – Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Luke tells us what the Lord said to the mass of people who were trying to get Him to stay with them: “And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also” (Luke 4:43). This was in keeping with the agenda by which He operated: “I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). A certain time had been allotted to the Son of God to “finish” the work He had been given to do. Prior to His betrayal, Jesus said to the Father, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). That “work” is what compelled Jesus to say these words.

               He would not be driven by the desires of the people, even though they appeared very commendable. Here the Lord was faced with a decision involving a choice between something appearing to be good, and the “good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2). In a day when “preaching” is considered a strictly secondary activity, and often impractical, we read of Jesus replying that He had to “preach the kingdom of God to other cities also.” He tells His disciples to come with Him, rather than stay with the multitudes, that He might “preach” in the “next towns.” He was filling that entire area with the good news of the Kingdom.

               THEREFORE CAME I FORTH. Of preaching Jesus said, “for that is what I came out for.” ^NASB Luke writes that Jesus said, “for therefore am I sent” (Lk 4:43). On the night of His betrayal, Jesus said to His disciples, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28). In our text, He connects His mission with preaching – with declaring in words the wonderful message that the heavenly rule was now being made known to those who would advantage from it.

               The idea of the text appears to be this: “Since multitudes are desirous to hear the Word of God, let us go into the next towns also, for I have not been sent to Capernaim alone, but must preach throughout all Judea.”

               When Jesus first began His ministry in His hometown synagogue, He declared He had been anointed to preach. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19). Great works without a great word bring no real advantage to the people. Moses worked some miracles of unequaled magnitude, but was primarily known for what He said. The prophets were also more noted for what they said. Jesus Himself was noted for His words. When He told His disciples of the soon coming of the Holy Spirit, He said the Spirit would “bring to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

               PREACHING IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES. Here again we see the focus of our Lord’s ministry. Reliable history tells us that Galilee was densely populated at the time of Jesus, with over two hundred villages, each having several thousand inhabitants. Conservative estimates approximate a million people. While all of this is not certain, it does confirm the magnitude of our Lord’s ministry. Luke says of this occasion, “and He preached in the synagogues of Galilee” (Lk 4:44).

               Just as surely as countless multitudes meeting in the synagogues of the land of Judea were perishing for lack of knowledge, so myriad professing believers are experiencing spiritual starvation within many churches of our land. Just as the Jewish synagogues were found in the “region of the shadow of death,” so it is with many churches of our country.

               AND CAST OUT DEVILS. What a commentary on the state of things in Judea! It was an area that was dominated by the wicked one and his hordes of demons. Christ’s preaching was accompanied by an assault on the kingdom of darkness. If the message of God is to be received by the people, there must be a commensurate struggle with, and overthrow, of “the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Eph 6:12). These powers seek to obscure truth. Insightful and powerful preaching illuminates the whole arena of life. This aspect of Kingdom labors – overthrowing despotic powers – must not be overlooked!