Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

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

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

What does Mark 1:35 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:35 depicts a moment in Jesus's life where he demonstrates the importance of solitude and prayer.

The verse shows Jesus waking up early, before dawn, to find a quiet place to communicate with his Father. Despite the demands of his ministry and the constant presence of crowds, he prioritizes time alone with God.

The verse suggests that this practice was an essential part of Jesus's routine and not just an occasional occurrence.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the early stages of Jesus's ministry in Galilee. During this time, he was attracting considerable attention due to his teachings and miracles.

The cultural context of this period included a heavy emphasis on prayer and the Jewish practice of starting the day with prayers to God.

It's possible that Jesus was observing the habit of rising for prayer during the last watch of the night, which corresponds to the time between 3 AM and 6 AM, a practice common among devout Jews.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse provides insight into the human-divine nature of Jesus.

His need for communion with the Father reflects his human aspect of experiencing exhaustion and seeking spiritual replenishment.

On a divine level, it demonstrates his commitment to the will of the Father and the spiritual sustainment that comes from prayer.

The solitude of Jesus is often interpreted as a model for Christian contemplative practices.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 1:35 encourages believers to make prayer a priority, showing that it's essential to take time away from daily tasks to connect with God.

This verse can serve as a reminder that one should also seek solitary moments for reflection and rejuvenation. In the busy nature of modern life, emulating Jesus's practice is a way to maintain spiritual health and perspective.

Cross-References

Luke 5:16 (KJV): "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."
Psalm 63:1 (KJV): "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;"
Isaiah 50:4 (KJV): "He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "rising up a great while before day" translates to ἔγειρε λίαν πρωῒ, with ἔγειρε (egeire) literally meaning "he got up" and λίαν πρωῒ (lian proi) means "very early in the morning." The term "solitary" is διερημένος (dierēmenos), signifying "desolate" or "lonely," emphasizing the nature of the place as being completely isolated.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The emphasis on prayer at specific times of day has parallels in many other religious traditions. For instance, in Islam, the faithful perform the fajr prayer before dawn. Judaism similarly places significance on early morning prayers.

Many religious and philosophical traditions recognize the value of quiet reflection and the concept of withdrawing from the demands of everyday life to focus on spiritual matters.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific studies have shown that practices such as meditation and prayer can have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress and promoting a sense of well-being.

The quiet and solitude sought by Jesus for prayer can, therefore, be seen as beneficial practices that help with mindfulness and emotional regulation.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer interpretations of Mark 1:35.

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the need for private prayer moments, regardless of one's public ministry or profile.

John Calvin notes the discipline Jesus exhibits in rising early for prayer amid his busy public life.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary points out Jesus's example of withdrawing for a time of uninterrupted communion with God as an essential aspect of Christian conduct and self-care.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?