Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place (Mark 1:35–39)

 Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place (Mark 1:35–39)

Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue, revealing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven—the gospel of the kingdom. These secrets point the way for fallen people to return to heaven. And the only way is through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, through which we receive the forgiveness of sins.

People suffer and groan under the burden of sickness. From something as mild as a cold to something as serious as cancer, disease causes pain. On top of that, the devil—the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning—tries to destroy life in every way possible. But Jesus healed every kind of disease for those who came to Him, and He drove out demons.

Jesus could heal any disease, but He didn’t heal every single person. Sickness can come again. People can fall into temptation again and make mistakes. That’s why Jesus’ healing was a sign pointing to the greater grace of forgiveness. There is no greater gift or glory than the forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ blood. His blood has the power to cover sins—past, present, and future.

No one is completely free from illness, pressure, or stress. It’s part of the human condition. But it’s not a curse—it’s part of God’s prescription for restoration after Adam’s fall. Without God, we can do nothing. But in His love, we find life. The grace of Jesus’ forgiveness remains effective, even in pain and suffering. That’s why, with faith, we look toward our heavenly hope and endure today’s trials.

In Mark 1:35–39, Jesus went to a solitary place very early in the morning, while it was still dark, and prayed there. When the disciples came looking for Him and found Him, He said, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

"Very 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." (Mark 1:35)

Jesus waking up while it was still dark to pray in a quiet place is a powerful example. As the Son of God, He didn’t need to pray—yet He did. He showed us the way. And if Jesus prayed, how much more should we, as His followers?

So what is prayer? Well, let’s first talk about what it’s not. Prayer isn’t about meaningless repetition or chanting--babbling. Jesus warned us not to pray like that:

"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." (Matthew 6:7)

Prayer isn’t about being seen by others either. That kind of public performance is not true prayer—it’s hypocrisy. And Jesus said those people already received their reward:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others... Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5)

Jesus told us instead:

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:6)

We don’t need to tell God over and over again as if He didn’t already know:

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:8)

That might make you wonder—if God already knows everything, why pray at all? That’s why it’s important to understand what prayer really is.

Let’s go back to the beginning. In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree, they hid from God. But God called out:

“Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)

This wasn’t about their physical location. God was inviting them to reflect on what had happened—on their fall. He knew everything already. But He asked questions like, “Who told you that you were naked?”, “Have you eaten from the tree…?”

Even then, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Both said that they ate. But in this short conversation, we learn that prayer is being honest before God. It’s not about telling Him what He doesn’t know. It’s about returning to Him with open hearts.

King David learned this, too. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging the death of her husband Uriah, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him. David didn’t make excuses. He came to God in prayer with a broken and repentant heart. In Psalm 51, he wrote:

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16–17)

Also, prayer is also about asking God’s will to be done, not our own. For that, we must know God’s heart and His Word. Daniel is a good example. He read Jeremiah’s prophecy and understood that the exile would last seventy years. So what did he do? He prayed for his people’s return.

In Daniel 9, he prayed:

“Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name... We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” (Daniel 9:18-19)

Now someone might ask: if God already said the exile would last seventy years, why did Daniel need to pray? That’s the mystery and glory of prayer. God chooses to work through the prayers of His people. He invites us to partner with Him in His heavenly work. What a privilege and blessing.

Jesus affirmed this when He told Peter:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

And in the prayer Jesus taught us, He said:

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

God Answers Without Delay

Another example is the prayer of a widow. In the Bible, a widow—often paired with orphans—represents vulnerability and weakness. This story teaches us the importance of always praying and not giving up. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

The implication here is that without continual prayer, we’re likely to lose heart. The unjust judge gave in to the widow’s plea just to get her off his back, but God responds without delay. “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” (Luke 18:8)

Now, sometimes people misunderstand what “quickly” means. They think it means their pain, stress, or pressure will suddenly vanish. But the reality is, pain and pressure are often ongoing in everyday life. So what does “without delay” really mean?

It’s like how a parent responds to their child—always alert and ready to help, but not always giving what the child asks for. A parent doesn’t hand out candy every time the child asks, even if they love them dearly.

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

That’s why God doesn’t always remove the stress or pressure right away—because He already knows what we truly need. That’s the proof that He answers without delay. The problem is that we often don’t recognize this and start complaining.

The Prayer of Moses

Let’s look at Moses’ prayer. He went up Mount Sinai and spent forty days and forty nights with God, receiving the two stone tablets of the covenant law. But while he was on the mountain, the people pushed Aaron into making a golden calf idol. They claimed it was the god who brought them out of Egypt, and they started eating, drinking, and dancing around it (Exodus 32:4–6).

God was angered by their stubbornness and said He would destroy them (Exodus 32:9–10).
But Moses interceded—not for his own sake, but for God’s name and righteousness. He pleaded with God to turn from His fierce anger and not bring disaster on His people:

“But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.”’” (Exodus 32:11–13)

And then:

“Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.” (Exodus 32:14)

Moses’ prayer reminds us of the way our Lord Jesus Christ prayed as He hung on the cross. He committed no sin—nothing deserving of death. Yet He bore the sins of the world, lifted high in pain, shame, and humiliation. And while being mocked, ridiculed, and condemned to die, He still prayed for those who wronged Him.

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” (Luke 23:34)

God the Father heard His Son’s prayer. He accepted it. And because of that, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

God withheld His judgment that we rightly deserved. Instead, He poured it out on Jesus. And by the blood of Christ, we have been redeemed, cleansed, and declared righteous. Amen!

Jesus Prayed All the Time

Jesus would go to quiet places early in the morning to pray to His Father. Prayer, like breathing, is how we stay spiritually alive in God. Jesus always tuned His ears to the Father’s voice and responded with sensitivity and obedience.

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
(John 5:19)

Let’s Go to the Nearby Villages

“Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” (Mark 1:36–39)

Early in the morning, crowds were already gathering to find Jesus. The disciples rushed to inform Him. But Jesus said, “Let’s go to the nearby villages,” emphasizing His purpose to preach the good news in other places too.

The disciples were excited by Jesus’ growing fame. They had high hopes that He would soon rise as the promised Messiah. But Jesus didn’t come just to heal or cast out demons—those miracles pointed to something much greater: His mission to redeem humanity and lead them into God’s Kingdom.

At that time, the disciples didn’t yet understand the mystery of the cross. Their eyes were on His fame, not His suffering. But Jesus gently redirected them toward His true mission—a suffering Messiah who brings salvation. He continued preaching in synagogues across Galilee, casting out demons, and revealing the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is so that those who hear and see may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

He came to open His mouth and speak the good news first—and through His healing and deliverance, to bless people with the forgiveness of sins. Amen!

July 20, 2025
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.