Jesus was a morning person

JESUS WAS A MORNING PERSON
Edited by Glenn Pease
Mark 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still
dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a
secluded place, and was praying there.
BiblehubResources
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The History Era Prayer Of Christ
Mark 1:35
A.F. Muir
I. ITS IMMEDIATE OCCASION.
1. To be found in connectionwith his work. It was incessant. Freshclaims
upon his attention and compassionwere continually being made. Only the day
before "all the city" had been "gatheredtogetherat the door." The exercise of
his healing power was a drain upon his emotional and spiritual nature, and
the fatigue of the work, which lasted from morning to night, must have been a
severe tax upon the delicate organizationof the Saviour. He neededrest.
2. To be found in the excitementattaching to it. He was at the beginning of his
ministry, and it was full of novelty and uncertainty. As the supernatural
powerof Christ displayed itself, the people began to broach ideas of a

temporal sovereignty. A profound impression was produced upon the public
mind, and vastcrowds attended him wherever he moved. The corruption and
depravity of the human mind, too, must have become increasinglymanifest to
him. The problem of salvationnever could have seemedmore distressing or
difficult. And, in the midst of his occupation, the contrary currents of worldly
thought and human ambition must have been felt by him.
II. ITS ULTIMATE REASON. The circumstances offatigue and excitement
in themselves would not accountfor the anxiety displayed by Christ to secure
opportunity for devotion; it is as associatedwith his unique personality and
aim that they acquire significance. Forit is only as arising from personal
longing and necessity, that such a departure from the scene ofhis labours can
be understood. We are not to suppose that it was done for an example; the
whole proceeding would thereby be rendered too artificial and self-conscious.
And yet the actionitself was exemplary in the highestdegree. Its value as a
pattern for our imitation consists in its very absence ofself-consciousness. We
cannot help asking, "Whatwas the place held by prayer in his spiritual life?"
"How was the practice of devotion related to the inward needs-be of his
nature?" It was not simply a reactionof overwroughtfeeling or an instinctive
craving for emotional relief and variation. By his entire spiritual constitution
he was intimately relatedto the Father. The filial bond was infinitely strong,
tender, and intense. His true life was twofold - a giving forth of himself to
man, and receiving from God; the latter was necessaryto the efficiencyof the
former. He said, "I canof mine own selfdo nothing," and therefore he ever
sought communion with his unseen Father:
1. Forrestorationof spiritual power.
2. To maintain the elevationof his feeling and purpose.
3. Forcomfort and encouragement.
III. How IT WAS PREPAREDFOR. There is a climax in the text; an
impression is thereby conveyedof inward trouble, leading to painstaking
effort, which results in final relief and comfort.

1. He sought the Father early. "Very early, in the midst of the night," is the
literal force of the words. His first impulse toward heavenly communion was
obeyed. The thoughts which had kept the night wakefulwere not corrupted by
the new associations ofanother day. Are the first impressions of our minds on
awaking Divine or human? of heaven or of earth? Do we earnestlyseek to
know first of all God's will, and strive to realize his presence? He who so
prepares for the work and intercourse of the day will not be overtakenor
surprised by evil. Better lose a little sleepthan the restful communion of the
Father.
2. His departure was secret. There was no consulting with flesh and blood.
There are inward promptings and voices concerning which no earthly advice
should be asked. It is possible that "Simon and they that were with him" were
not a little disconcertedand annoyed that they had to seek forhim; but even
their presence would have been a hindrance. The solemnyet fascinating
individualism of true prayer is not realized as it might be. Secretprayer is the
backgroundof earnestand real common prayer. In this matter we have not
only the example but the injunction of Christ (Matthew 6:6).
3. Notonly the actualpresence of men but human associationswere avoided.
"He departed into a desertplace. Such a situation, as formerly the weird
solitudes of the Quaritanian Desert, harmonized with his spiritual mood.
Wide upland spaces,far withdrawn, brought him nearer to the Unseen and
Eternal, afforded largerviews, spiritual as well as physical, and favored the
ideality and inwardness that are essentialto a greatspirit.
The silence that is in the starry sky,
The sleepthat is among the lonely hills," were an anodyne to his fretted and
troubled heart; in nature he met God. Such a spot could only have been found
at a distance, and this is further implied by the circumstance of the others
following after him, and their message, "Allare seeking thee." Lessons:
(1) Opportunities for secretprayer will be prized and even createdby devout
minds.

(2) If the purest and grandest moral Being the world has seenneeded such
communion with his Father, how much more such as we?
(3) God must be soughtdiligently, and before all else, if he is to be sought
effectually.
(4) How difficult of accessand realization is the oratory of the soul, where
devotion may be free from earthliness, continuous and uninterrupted! ? M
Biblical Illustrator
And in the morning, rising up a greatwhile before day.
Mark 1:35
If we would pray well, we must pray early
M. F. Sadler.
Christians have often to choose betweenthe indulgence of a little more sleep
and the time of prayer cut short, and scantand hurried devotion, or between

a little self-denial in sleepand the freshestand best hours of the day given to
God, and God blessing the self-denialby answering the prayer.
(M. F. Sadler.)
Convenience made for private prayer
R. Glover.
Christ had no conveniencesfor securing quiet, but He made them. The hilltop
was His chamber, and darkness His bolted door. He had no time for prayer,
but He made time, rising "a greatwhile before day." Say not you have no time
or secretplace for prayer. Where there is a will there is a way to get both
these things.
(R. Glover.)
Jesus in secretprayer
D. C. Hughes, M. A.
I. THE BEARING OF THIS FACT ON HIMSELF.
1. It proves the reality of His human nature.
2. It proves that as man He was subjectto the same limitations and moral
conditions as we are.
3. It proves that even sinless beings, when tried, need Divine help.
II. THE BEARING OF THIS FACT ON US.
1. If Jesus prayed, it is neither unscientific nor unbecoming in us to pray.
2. If Jesus prayed, no disciple canbecome so strong or holy as to be beyond
the need of praying.

3. Prayerhas positive powerwith God, and is more than a subjective
influence.
4. If Jesus prayed, all ought and need to pray.
5. Having the name of Jesus to plead, everyone may be assuredof being heard
and answered.
(D. C. Hughes, M. A.)
Christ praying
B. Wilkinson.
What an example of swift, unselfish activity. The Saviour cannot forego
prayer, it is too important and necessary;but He will not let it interfere with
His activity in behalf of others. Keep this in mind when tempted to neglect
prayer because time so much takenup with work.
I. ONLY BY COMBINING PRAYER AND WORK WILL WORK BE
PREVENTEDFROM INJURING US.
1. Even spiritual work may not always be beneficial;for it may draw us away
from the cultivation of our own personalreligious life; or fosterwithin us the
spirit of self-elation;or begetwithin us a feeling of despondency.
2. Secularwork, it is easyto see, is likely to affect us injuriously. The wearand
tear of the spirit, in the midst of the rush and roar of the world's business for
six days in the week, will seriouslyunfit a man for spiritual exercisesonthe
seventh. Transitionfrom one order of occupationto the other will require an
effort he will be too languid to put forth. No remedy but frequent intercourse
with God in the midst of toil.
II. ONLY THUS WILL WORKBRING TRUE BLESSING. Prayerbrings
the Divine blessing down. Even Christ soughtit thus. Do all work for God,
and seek to have God with you in it all.

III. ONLY THUS WILL WORK BECOME A DELIGHT TO US. This is an
important consideration, since with most of us life is filled with work. Would
we not have it a refreshment rather than a burden? The most cheerful, patient
and heroic toilers are those who are most constantin prayer. Only so can we
do our work as it ought to be done, and get from it all the goodit is intended
to yield.
(B. Wilkinson.)
True prayer difficult
G. Petter.
Christ was carefulto use the best outward helps and furtherances to prayer,
such as the opportunity of the morning and the privacy of the place. Whence
we may gather, that to pray aright is a difficult work, and not easyto
perform. If it were an easymatter, what need for such helps? Christ, indeed,
had no need of such helps for Himself: set He used them for our instruction, to
show us what need we have of them, and how hard a thing it is to pray well.
1. We have no ability of ourselves by nature to perform this duty (Romans
8:26).
2. There are many things to hinder us in the duty; especiallySatanlabouring
continually to stir up hindrances and disturbances;also our own corrupt
hearts, which are apt to be taken up at times of prayer with swarms of idle
and wandering thoughts.
3. It is a duty of greatexcellence and profit, much and often commended in
Scripture: no wonder, therefore, if it be difficult, for so are all excellentand
precious duties.
4. Prayeris a holy conference with God; and it is hard to speak to God as we
ought. Learn from all this the ignorance of those who think it so easya matter
to pray. Becausethey think it easythey go about it without preparation,
without watchfulness over their hearts, and without using any helps to further
them in the duty; and the consequence is that they pray in a very slight,

perfunctory manner. If they repeatthe bare words of the Lord's Prayer, or
some other prayer (though without all understanding and feeling), they think
this is enough. Indeed, this is an easykind of praying, or rather saying of a
prayer; for it is not rightly calledpraying, when only the words of a prayer
are rehearsed. Suchas know what it is to pray aright acknowledgeit to be a
difficult work. Let us be more diligent and frequent in the exercise ofit, that it
may become more easyto us.
(G. Petter.)
Early morning communion with God
ColonelGardiner used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to spend
his time till six in the secretexercisesofthe closet, reading, meditation, and
prayer; in which last he acquired such a fervency of spirit as, says his
biographer, "I believe few men living ever attained. This certainly very much
contributed to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent, animating
sense ofHis presence, forwhich He was so eminently remarkable, and which
carried him through the trials and services oflife with such steadiness and
with such activity; for he indeed endured and actedas if always seeing Him
who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go out before six in the
morning, he rose proportionally sooner;so that, when a journey or a march
has required him to be on horseback by four, he would be at his devotions by
two."
The prayers of Christ
Prof. A. S. Farrar.
Eighteentimes our Lord's own prayers are alluded to or quoted; but those
passagesgive us only four aspects ofHis prayers.
I. HIS HABIT of prayer. In five passages(Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 5:16;
Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46) we have our Lord withdrawing for prolonged
private prayer; at a time when involved in the whirl of public work;before

appointing His apostles and establishing His kingdom. In a sixth passage
(Luke 11:1) this habit so impressedthe disciples that they askedHim to teach
them how to pray.
II. HIS THANKFULNESS in prayer. In five more passages, three (Matthew
11:25;John 11:41;Luke 10:21) quote an ejaculationof gratitude. The others
(Luke 3:21; Luke 9:28) are on the occasions ofHis baptism and
transfiguration; the one initiating Him into His mission of teaching, the other
into His mission of suffering.
III. HIS INTERCESSIONin prayer.
1. ForHis friends (Luke 22:32).
2. ForHis enemies (Luke 23:34).
3. ForHimself and His disciples as one with Him (John 17)
IV. HIS OBEDIENCEin prayer (Matthew 26:39;Mark 15:34;Luke 22:42;
John 12:27). We may draw from these prayers —
1. An argument in favour of our Lord's divinity. There is no confessionofsin.
He prays for, never with, His disciples.
2. We may see an example for ourselves in
(1)His belief in the habit of prayer;
(2)the reverent limit He assignedto prayer — "NotMy will," etc.;
(3)His practice of private super-added to public prayer;
(4)His joyful continuance in prayer.
(Prof. A. S. Farrar.)
Prayer
W. H. Jellie.

I.LONELY.
II.PREPARATORY.
III.SELF-DENYING.
IV.LEISURELY.
V.LINGERING.
VI.BLISSFUL.
(W. H. Jellie.)
Secretprayer
A. Barnes, D. D.
I. That the Saviour, though perfectly holy, regarded the duty of secretprayer
as of greatimportance.
II. That He sought a solitary place for it — far away from the world, and even
His disciples.
III. That it was early in the morning — the first thing after rising-always the
best time, and a time when it should not be omitted.
IV. If Jesus prayed, how much more important is it for us. If He did it in the
morning, how much more important is it for us, before the world gets
possessionofour thoughts; before Satan fills us with unholy feelings;when we
rise fresh from beds of repose, and while the world around us is still! David
thus prayed (Psalm5:3). He that wishes to enjoy religion will seek a place of
secretprayer in the morning. If that is omitted all will go wrong — our piety
will wither, the world will fill our thoughts, temptations will be strong, and
through the day we shall find it impossible to raise our feelings to a state of
proper devotion. The religious enjoyment through the day will be according to
the state of the heart in the morning; and can, therefore, be measured by our
faithfulness in early, secretprayer. How different the conduct of the Saviour

from those who spend the precious hours of the morning in sleep!He knew
the value of the morning hours, etc.
(A. Barnes, D. D.)
The devotions of Christ
Various.
I. THE FACT OF HIS PRAYING. It is a wonderful fact that one like Him
should pray at all. But it may be explained.
1. He prayed as a Man.
2. He prayed as Mediator.
3. He prayed as an Example.
II. THE CIRCUMSTANCESOF HIS PRAYING.
1. Early. "His morning smiles bless all the day."
2. Frequent.
3. Long. Much of the heart may be thrown into a short prayer.
(Various.)
The prayers of Jesus
J. Stalker, M. A.
I. THE MYSTERYOF THE PRAYERS OF JESUS. If Jesus is God, how
could He pray to God? How were there any needs in His nature on behalf of
which He could pray? A partial answeris found in the truth that all prayers
do not spring from a sense ofneed. The highest form of prayer is conversation
with God — the familiar talk of a child with his Father. 's "Confessions"is an
example of this. But the only adequate explanation is Christ's humanity; He

was wholly man. Human nature in Him was a tender thing, and had to fail
back on the strength of prayer.
II. HIS HABITS OF PRAYER. He went into the solitudes of nature. There is
a solitude of time as well as of space. It might be an enriching discovery to find
out the solitudes in our neighbourhood: silent, soothing influence of nature.
Christ prayed in company as well as in secret.
III. THE OCCASIONS ON WHICH HE PRAYED.
1. He prayed before taking an important step in life, as when He chose which
men to be with Him.
2. He prayed when His life was speciallybusy; when He could not find time to
eat He found time to pray. We make that an excuse for not praying. Christ
made it a reasonfor praying.
3. He prayed before entering temptation.
4. He died praying.
IV. THE ANSWER TO HIS PRAYERS.
1. The Transfiguration was an answerto prayer — "As He prayed," etc.
2. His baptism was an answerto prayer. Are you a man of prayer?
(J. Stalker, M. A.)
Jesus rising early for secretprayer
J. Lathrop, D. D.
I. How diligent the Saviour was in the improvement of His time.
II. That no crowd of company or calls of business could divert Jesus from His
daily, stateddevotions.
III. What care our Lord took to find a place of solitude for His prayers, that
He might neither meet with disturbance, nor seemostentatious.

1. One reasonwhy we should retire to a secretplace for solitaryprayer is, that
we may avoid the appearance ofostentation.
2. That we may be undisturbed.
3. That our minds may enjoy greaterfreedom in communion with God.
(J. Lathrop, D. D.)
Jesus in prayer
The CongregationalPulpit.
I. As simple INTERCOURSE WITHGOD.
II. View it in relation to His WORK. So do we need constantprayer in the
midst of our work.
1. Forcalm and holy review.
2. Fordirection — asking wisdomof God, just as a mariner consults his
compass.
3. Forqualifications — mental, moral, and even physical.
4. Forsuccess. Godgiveth the increase.
5. Forfreedom from perverting influences. Our motives are apt to get
entangledand our aims confused. In prosperity we are in danger of waxing
egotistic, vain, and proud. See it in many a successfulbusiness man, and in
many a popular minister. In adversity we are tempted to despond.
(The CongregationalPulpit.)
Secretdevotion
J. Morgan.

I. TO EXPLAIN AS EXERCISE OF SECRETDEVOTION. It is little we
know of the private life of Christ. In silence there is much instruction. He was
often in private retirement (Luke 6:12; Luke 21:37; Luke 22:39; John 6:15).
1. The occasiononwhich our Lord betakes Himself to this exercise ofsecret
devotion. You observe the connection — after a day of laborious occupationin
the public exercises ofreligion, He sought an opportunity for secretdevotion:
the one no excuse for the neglectof the other. In the public exercisesof
religion we most need the private exercisesofdevotion. There are reasons for
this. It is in private that the impressions of the public ordinances must be
maintained on the mind. It prevents relapse. Besides,this is a time of peculiar
temptation. If a Christian in his public exercises hadattained to high
enjoyment, every stratagemwill be used by Satanto rob him of his treasure.
Besides, it is necessaryto follow our public services with secretexercises,that
we may bring the former to the test. In public we are apt to be excited, but
feelings that are excited may be deceitful; and every wise man will test these
feelings in the presence ofGod alone.
2. The next circumstance in this exercise that attracts our attention is the time
that our Lord was pleasedto choose for it — "In the morning." His self-
denial. The morning is favourable to devotion, our minds are not yet
disturbed by the cares of the day. What anxiety to give God the best of His
services.
3. The place He sought for it. The works ofthe Divine hand are aids to
devotion.
4. The exercise itself — "He prayed." Christ as man needed to pray. We can
conceive ofAdam in innocence praying; but our Lord needed prayer, as being
the subjectof sinless infirmity; but above all as Mediator. Suggesta few aids
to secretdevotion —
(1)Self-examination;
(2)meditation;
(3)a determination of future obedience.Christcame out of His solitude with
purposes to do the will of His heavenly Father.

II. I AM TO ENFORCE THE DUTY OF SECRETDEVOTION BYA
CONSIDERATION OF ITS BENEFITS.
1. It has a tendency to produce godliness. Becauseit brings us into contact
with God. It produces simplicity, and godly sincerity, and gentleness.
2. Secretdevotionis most favourable to the comfort of the mind. Devotion
soothes the mind; it elevates the mind. It imparts joy in religion.
3. Secretdevotionis most favourable to usefulness. The secretofusefulness
among men is a spirit of piety toward God.
(J. Morgan.)
Secretprayer aids socialusefulness
J. Morgan.
In the very manner in which he speaks to everyone he meets, in the very way
he discharges everyduty to which he is called, his spirit is as it ought to be,
and therefore the man is walking up and down in society, scattering blessings
"on the right hand and on the left." On the other hand, suppose him to have
neglectedthe exercisesofsecretdevotion, he comes out into societywith a
ruffled temper, with a dissatisfiedspirit, finding fault with everybody, with
everything, dissatisfiedwith all, because dissatisfiedwith himself, neglecting
opportunities, doing nothing as it ought to be done, losing the opportunity that
God in His providence gives him. Again, look at the spirit in which such a man
conducts himself towards others. The spirit of the man of God is a spirit of
humility Think of the language of the 126th Psalm, "He that goethforth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shalldoubtless come againwith rejoicing
bringing his sheaves withhim" — the man that goes forth in genuine humility
and true modesty, and attempts his work, not in the spirit of intrusion or
interference, but simply in the strength of God, is the man who in the end will
be successful. It is not only the spirit which he cherishes towards man, but
that which he cherishes towards God, that insures success. Towards man, his
spirit is modest and humble, towards God it is the spirit of dependence. And

then you observe in him greatsteadfastness. He has been with God in the
morning in the exercise ofsecretdevotion, and therefore though he may meet
with difficulty during the day, he is not to be stumbled by it; it may retard
him, it may distress him, but he knows too well what he was to expect, to be
overcome;he acts on that principle assuredof its justice, "therefore be ye
steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch
as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
(J. Morgan.)
Early risers
Dr. Doddridge tells us that to his habit of early rising the world is indebted for
nearly the whole of his valuable works. The well-knownBishop Burnett was
an habitual early riser, for when at college his father arousedhim to his
studies every morning at four o'clock;and he continued the practice during
the remainder of his life. Sir Thomas More also made it his invariable practice
to rise always at four, and if we turn our attention to royalty, we have, among
others, the example of Peterthe Great, who, whether at work in the docks at
London as a ship carpenter, or at the anvil as a blacksmith, or on the throne
of Russia, always rose before daylight.
Finding a place to pray
Anon.
Dr. Milne, afterwards the famous missionary in China, when a youth, after
leaving home, was situatedin an ungodly family. So he used to retire to a
sheepcote,where the sheepwere kept in winter, and there, surrounded by the
sheep, he knelt on a piece of turf which he kept and carried with him for the
purpose, spending many an hour there, even in the cold of winter, in sweet
communion with his God.
(Anon.)

Rising early
It is a little difficult, especiallywhen the mornings are dark and cold, to getup
sufficiently early to have profitable communion with God. Ask God for
getting up grace. A friend told us a few days since that she tracedmuch
failure in her religious life to late rising, but God had given her victory over
the old habit of lying in bed until the last minute. If Jesus Christ found it
necessaryto rise "a greatwhile before day," and depart "into a solitary
place" to pray, we have need to be with God before the work of the day
begins. Ward Beechersays:"Let the day have a blessedbaptism by giving
your first waking thoughts to God. The first hour of the morning is the rudder
of the day."
Private devotion
J. S. Exell, M. A.
I. That private prayer SHOULD BE ENJOYED IN THE EARLY
MORNING.
1. Becauseit insures time for the performance of prayer.
2. Becauseit is the time when the soul is most free from care and anxiety.
3. Becausethe world is silent — favourable to the voice of prayer.
4. Becauseit is favourable to unostentation.
5. Becauseit is a goodhusbanding of time.
II. That private prayer should be PERFORMED BYTHE BUSIEST LIFE.
1. The neglectof private devotion by a busy life is injudicious.
2. The neglectof private devotion by a busy life is inexcusable.
III. Private prayer SHOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED BYPOPULARITY.

IV. Private prayer will AID AND INSPIRE IN THE CONTINUED
MINISTRYOF LIFE. "And He said unto them, Let us go unto the next
towns, that I may preachthere also" (ver. 38).
1. Thus private prayer stimulates to continued activity in life.
2. Private prayer enables a man to awaken the moral activity of others.
V. Private prayer LEADS TO A HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE TRUE
MISSION OF LIFE. Lessons:
1. That early morning is a goodtime for prayer.
2. That solitude is favourable to devotion.
3. That the best men need private prayer.
4. That the most busy men have no excuse for the neglectof private devotion.
5. That secretprayer is the strength of all moral life and activity.
(J. S. Exell, M. A.)
Early morning prayer
Trapp.
The most orient pearls are generatedof the morning dew. Abraham and Job
both rose early to offer sacrifice. The Persianmagi sang hymns to their gods
at break of day, and worshipped the rising sun.
(Trapp.)
The early mornings a friend to the graces
M. Henry.
It has been said, The morning is a friend to the muses, and it is no less so to
the graces.

(M. Henry.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(35) A greatwhile before day.—Literally, very early, while it was yet night.
The note of time is peculiar to St. Mark. Prayer seems to have been sought
now, as at other times, after a day of extraordinary and exhausting labour.
BensonCommentary
Mark 1:35-39. And in the morning, a greatwhile before day — Εννυχου λιαν,
When the night was very far advanced, or, when it was yet deep night, he
went out, &c. — Thus diligently did the Sonof God labour for us! After the
preceding day had been spent in preaching, and the evening in working
miracles, Jesus allowedhimself but a very short repose. And departed into a
solitary place — Withdrawing not only from the multitude, but even from his
disciples;for the company of the bestfriends is not always seasonablenor
acceptable. There are times and cases whena true Christian would not be
willing that his dearestfriends should be witnesses ofwhat passes between
God and his soul. By retiring thus early in the morning for prayer, our Lord
teaches that the morning is a fit season, yea, the best season, forprivate duties.
Then our spirits are most fresh, and our minds most free, before the cares and
distractions of the day have brokenin upon us. It is better to go from prayer
to business, than from business to prayer. But not only early in the morning,
but at other convenient times, we find our Lord retiring to pour out his soul in
prayer to his heavenly Father, hereby showing all his followers the great
importance of cultivating communion with God in private: and those who are
employed in his public service should especiallyattend to this, lest, while they
keepthe vineyard of others, their own should be neglectedand empoverished.

And Simon, &c., followedafter him — When the day was somewhat
advanced, and crowds of people came to inquire after him, Peter, and they
that were with him — That is, those who have been already mentioned as his
partners and companions, guessing where he was, wentout and followed after
him; and said, All men seek forthee — They were gladthat their Masterwas
become so popular already, and wished him to appear in public yet more in
that place, because it was their own city, and men are apt to be partial to the
places with which they are particularly acquainted, and in which they feel
themselves peculiarly interested. And he said, Let us go into the next towns —
The villages in the neighbourhood; that I may preach there also — And work
miracles there; for therefore came I forth — Notto be constantly resident in
one place, but to go about doing good. It being Christ’s designto propagate
the gospeleverywhere, he would not confine his ministry to any particular
place, no, not to the greatcity of Capernaum; but resolves to preachthe word
in the smallesttowns and villages. Herein he set ministers an instructive
example, showing them that they must be as willing to preach the gospelin the
smallestvillages as in the largestcities, whenGod calls them thereunto. Let
the place be never so obscure and mean, and the congregationneverso small
and poor, the greatestmust not think it beneath them to go and instruct them,
though but a handful of people. And he preachedthroughout all Galilee —
Not drawn from his purpose by the persuasions, howeverimportunate, of his
friends. And castout devils — Working also divers miracles to illustrate and
confirm his doctrine. See on Matthew 4:23.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
1:29-39 WhereverChrist comes, he comes to do good. He cures, that we may
minister to him, and to others who are his, and for his sake. Thosekeptfrom
public ordinances by sicknessorother real hinderances, may expect the
Saviour's gracious presence;he will soothe their sorrows, and abate their
pains. Observe how numerous the patients were. When others speed well with
Christ, it should quicken us in seeking afterhim. Christ departed into a
solitary place. Though he was in no danger of distraction, or of temptation to
vain-glory, yet he retired. Those who have the most business in public, and of
the bestkind, must yet sometimes be alone with God.

Barnes'Notes on the Bible
And in the morning, rising up a greatwhile before day - Luke says Luke 4:42,
"when it was day." The passagein Mark means, in the original, not literally
"a great while before day," but very early, or while there was yet "much
appearance ofnight." The place in Luke means "at daybreak," at the
beginning of day. Then, also, there is much appearance ofnight; and Luke
and Mark therefore refer to the same time before it was fully light, or just at
daybreak.
And departed into a solitary place, and there prayed - Observe here:
1. that the Saviour, though perfectly holy, regardedthe duty of secretprayer
as of greatimportance.
2. that he, soughta solitary place for it - far awayfrom the world and even
from his disciples.
3. that it was earlyin the morning - always the best time, and a time when it
should not be omitted.
4. if Jesus prayed, how much more important is it for us!
If Jesus did it in the morning, how much more important is it for us, before
the world gets possessionof our thoughts; before Satan fills us with unholy
feelings;when we rise fresh from beds of repose, and while the world around
us is still! David also thus prayed, Psalm5:3; Psalm 119:147.He that wishes to
enjoy religion will seek a place of secretprayer in the morning. If that is
omitted, all will go wrong, our piety will wither. The world will fill our
thoughts. Temptations will be strong. Through the day, we shall find it
impossible to raise our feelings to a state of proper devotion. It will be found
to be true universally, "that the religious enjoyment through the day will be
according to the state of the heart in the morning, and cantherefore be
measuredby our faithfulness in early secretprayer." How different, too, was
the conduct of the Saviour from those who spend the precious hours of the
morning in sleep! He knew the value of the morning hours; he rose while the
world was still; he saw the light as it spread abroadin the eastwith fresh

tokens of his Father's presence, and joined with the universal creationin
offering praise to the everywhere present God.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
35. And in the morning—that is, of the day after this remarkable sabbath; or,
on the first day of the week. His choosing this day to inaugurate a new and
glorious stage ofHis public work, should be noted by the reader.
rising up a greatwhile before day—"while it was yet night," or long before
daybreak.
he went out—all unperceived from Peter's house, where He slept.
and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed—or, "continued in
prayer." He was about to begin His first preaching and healing circuit; and as
on similar solemn occasions(Lu 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28, 29;Mr 6:46), He spent
some time in specialprayer, doubtless with a view to it. What would one not
give to have been, during the stillness of those grey morning hours, within
hearing—not of His "strong crying and tears," forHe had scarce arrived at
the stage forthat—but of His calm, exalted anticipations of the work which
lay immediately before Him, and the outpourings of His soul about it into the
bosom of Him that sentHim! He had doubtless enjoyed some uninterrupted
hours of such communings with His heavenly Fatherere His friends from
Capernaum arrived in searchof Him. As for them, they doubtless expected,
after such a day of miracles, that the next day would witness similar
manifestations. When morning came, Peter, loath to break in upon the repose
of his glorious Guest, would awaitHis appearance beyond the usual hour; but
at length, wondering at the stillness, and gently coming to see where the Lord
lay, he finds it—like the sepulchre afterwards—empty! Speedily a party is
made up to go in searchof Him, Peternaturally leading the way.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Secretprayer stands commended to us, as by the precept of Christ, Matthew
6:6, so by his frequent example, to teach us that our duty in prayer is not
dischargedwithout it: we are to pray with all prayer and supplication. There
is in public and private prayer a more united strength and interest, but in

secretprayer an advantage for more free and full communication of our souls
unto God. Christ for this chooseththe morning, as the time freestfrom
distractions and company; and a solitary place, as fittest for a secret duty.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And in the morning, rising up a greatwhite before day,.... On the morrow
after the sabbath, on the first day in the morning, notwithstanding the fatigue
of the former day, through preaching and working miracles; yet he rose up
very early while it was very much within the night, as the light and day were
coming on, and before the day broke; though it might be broad day before he
departed out of the house, as Luke suggests, Luke 4:42,
he went out; out of the house of Simon and Andrew, and out of the city of
Capernaum, leaving his disciples and friends behind him:
and departed into a solitary place, and there he prayed; as man, to his God
and Father; it may be for his disciples he had lately chosen;for himself, as
man, that he might be strengthened as such for service;and for successin his
ministry, and that his Gospelmight run and be glorified; he chose a desert,
and solitary place, for the sake ofretirement, from the crowdof people that
attended at Peter's door; where he could not be alone, and in private, and as
most suitable for the exercise ofprayer. His early and private devotion may be
an example to us.
Geneva Study Bible
And in the morning, rising up a greatwhile before day, he went out, and
departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
Mark 1:35-39. Luke 4:42-44 is less characteristicand more generalized.
ἔννυχον λίαν] when it was still very dark. ἔννυχον is the accusative neuter of
the definition of time, as σήμερον, αὔριον, νέον, etc. The word itself is often

found also in classicalwriters, but not this adverbial use of the accusative
neuter (3Ma 5:5; see, however, Grimm in loc.). Comp. ἐννυχώτερον, Aesop,
Fab. 79. The plural form ἔννυχα (in Lachmann and Tischendorf, following B
C D L ‫,א‬ min.) is, however, decisivelyattested, although likewise without
sanctionfrom Greek usage;[59]in Soph. Aj. 930, πάννυχα is adjective.
ἘΞῆΛΘΕ]out of his house, Mark 1:29. Comp. Mark 2:1.
ΚΑΤΕΔΊΩΞΑΝ]only occurring here in the N. T., more significant than the
simple form, expressive of the following up till they reachedHim; Thuc. ii. 84.
3; Polyb. vi. 42. 1; Sir 27:17;Psalm 22:18.
καὶ οἱ μετʼ αὐτοῦ]Andrew, John, and James, Mark 1:29. Under this
expressionis already implied the conceptionof the historicalprominent
position of Peter. But such an expressiondoes not betray any specialPetrine
tendency of the Gospel.
πάντες] puts Jesus in mind of the multitude of yesterday, Mark 1:32; Mark
1:34.
ἈΛΛΑΧΟῦ] with a verb of direction, comp. Mark 1:28 and on Matthew 2:22.
The following ΕἸς ΤᾺς ἘΧΟΜ. ΚΩΜΟΠ., into the nearest(Herod. i. 134;
Xen. Anab. i. 8, iv. 9; Joseph. Antt. xi. 8. 6, and frequently; comp. Acts 13:44;
Acts 21:26)villages, is a more precise definition of ἀλλαχοῦ. See Bornemann,
Schol. in Luc. iv. 23, v. 35, and in the Stud. u. Krit. 1843, p. 127;Fritzsche, ad
Marc. p. 22.

κωμοπόλεις]villages, only used here in the N. T., but see the passagesin
Wetstein.
εἰς τοῦτο γὰρἐξῆλθον] for that (namely, to preach abroadalso)is the object
for which I have left the house, Mark 1:35. Schenkelinvents here quite a
different connection. In opposition to the context, others understand ἐξῆλθον
of having come forth from the Father. So Euthymius Zigabenus, Maldonatus,
Grotius, Bengel, Lange, and others;comp. Baumgarten-Crusius. A
harmonizing with Luke 4:43.
[59] Hesychius has the adverb νύχα, equivalent to νύκτωρ.
Expositor's Greek Testament
Mark 1:35-39. Flight from Capernaum (Luke 4:42-44).
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
35–39.SolitaryPrayer. Tour in Galilee
35. in the morning, … a greatwhile before day] Another graphic touch of the
Evangelist. He brings the scene before our eyes. The previous day had been a
long day of conflict with and victory over the kingdom of sin and death. He
now retires to refreshHimself in the heaven of prayer, in communion with His
Father. He prepares Himself in the desertfor a secondgreatmissionof Love,
this time accompaniedby His first four disciples.
a solitary place]“A remarkable feature of the Lake of Gennesaretwas thatit
was closelysurrounded with desert solitudes. These ‘desertplaces’thus close
at hand on the table-lands or in the ravines of the easternand westernranges,
gave opportunities of retirement for rest or prayer. ‘Rising up early in the
morning while it was yet dark’ or ‘passing over to the other side in a boat,’ He

sought these solitudes, sometimes alone, sometimes with His disciples. The
Lake in this double aspectis thus a reflex of that union of energy and rest, of
active labour and deep devotion, which is the essence ofChristianity, as it was
of the Life of Him, in whom that union was first taught and shewn.” Stanley’s
Sinai and Palestine, pp. 378, 379.
Bengel's Gnomen
Mark 1:35. Ἔννυχον, in the depth of night [a greatwhile before day]) Day and
night He was on the watch for our salvation. Hence also is evinced the
eagerness ofthe apostles and the people:see the following verses.—
προσηύχετο, He was in prayer) speciallyfor the apostles:see following verse.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 35. - And in the morning, at greatwhile before day, he rose up and went
out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. Our Lord thus
prepared himself by prayer for his first departure on a missionary tour. This
would be the morning of the first day of the week. A greatwhile before day he
left the scene of excitement. That was not a time for preaching the Gospelof
the Kingdom. The miracles attractedattention to him, but they were not the
objectfor which he came. They were necessaryas means of stirring and
awakening men's minds, and of fixing their attention upon him and upon the
greatsalvationwhich he came to reveal. So he left the miracles to do their
subordinate work; and he himself went into a desert place, that he might pray
with more quiet and less distraction. He retired that he might escape the
applause of men, which they were ready to lavish upon him after seeing so
many miracles; that he might thus teachus to shun the praise of men. Let us
learn from Christ to give the early morning to prayer, and to rise with the
dawn of day, that we may have time for meditation, and give the firstfruits of
the morning to God. The early morning is favorable for study; but it is
speciallydear to God and his angels.
Vincent's Word Studies
A greatwhile before day (ἔννυχα)
Lit., while it was in the night. The word is peculiar to Mark.

PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
Mark 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus gotup, left the
house, and went awayto a secludedplace, and was praying there.
morning. Mk 6:48. 13:35. 16:2. Ge 19:27. 28:18. Jdg 6:38. 9:33. 2 Sa 23:4. 2 Ki
3:22. Job1:5. Ps 5:3. 130:6. Isa 26:9. Lk 24:1. Jn 20:1.
Jesus gotup. Mk 6:46-48. Ps 5:3. 109:4. Lk 4:42. 6:12. 22:39-46. Jn4:34. 6:15.
Ep 6:18. Php 2:5. Heb 5:7.
early 1 Sa 1:19. Ps 63:1. 78:34. Is 26:9.
left. Lk 6:12.
secludedplace. Ps 107:4-7. Mt 14:23. Lk 5:16. 9:18.
praying. Mk 6:46. Ps 109:4. Mt 11:25. 26:39. Lk 3:21. 10:21. 11:1. 22:32.
23:34, 46. Jn 11:41. 17:9. Heb 5:7.
DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING
SIT THERE!
ParallelPassagein Luke 4:42+ - When day came, Jesus leftand went to a
secludedplace; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and
tried to keepHim from going awayfrom them.
In the early morning, while it was still dark - Luke has when day came. So it
must have been just as the first morning light breaks into the total darkness,
especiallyin a "wilderness"(secluded)place awayfrom any city lighting.
Early morning refers to the lastwatch of the night from three to six A.M.
Morning has broken like the first morning

Blackbird has spokenlike the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Early morning (4404)(proifrom pro = before) is an adverb of time closely
paralleling our English word early or the phrase in the morning. Proi means
early, in the (early) morning; in Jewishtime reckoning, the last watchof the
night. Mark used the term proi to refer to the fourth watch of the night, the
hours from 3 to 6 a.m.
Mark 13:35 = "Therefore, be on the alert (gregoreuo in present imperative
calling for reliance on the Holy Spirit to obey) –for you do not know when the
master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when
the roostercrows, orin the morning (LAST WATCH)."
Mark 15:1 = Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes
and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus,
they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate.
Proi - 12x- Matt. 16:3; Matt. 20:1; Matt. 21:18;Mk. 1:35; Mk. 11:20; Mk.
13:35;Mk. 15:1; Mk. 16:2; Mk. 16:9; Jn. 18:28;Jn. 20:1; Acts 28:23
Proi is used over 180xin the Septuagint so only the uses in Genesis and Psalms
are listed - Gen. 1:5; Gen. 1:8; Gen. 1:13; Gen. 1:19; Gen. 1:23; Gen. 1:31;
Gen. 19:27;Gen. 20:8; Gen. 21:14; Gen. 22:3; Gen. 24:54;Gen. 26:31;Gen.
28:18;Gen. 29:25;Gen. 31:55;Gen. 32:24;Gen. 40:6; Gen. 41:8; Gen. 44:3
Ps. 5:3; Ps. 30:5; Ps. 46:5; Ps. 49:14; Ps. 55:17;Ps. 59:16;Ps. 88:13; Ps. 90:5;
Ps. 90:6; Ps. 90:14; Ps. 92:2; Ps. 143:8;
Jesus gotup, left the house, and went awayto a secludedplace - Got up is
anistemi which means to arise and is the same verb used by Jesus Himself
teaching that He would be killed (crucified) and "afterthree days arise again
(anistemi)" (Mk 8:31) an event that also occurredearly one Sunday morning
(cf Mk 16:2 = "Very early [proi] on the first day of the week, they came to the
tomb when the sun had risen [anistemi].", Jn 20:1 = "Now on the first day of

the week MaryMagdalene came early[proi] to the tomb, while it was still
dark, and saw the stone already takenawayfrom the tomb.")! Hallelujah!
Secludedplace is the same Greek word eremos translatedearlier as
wilderness, the place of His temptations by the devil (Mk 1:12-13+, cfMt
4:1+) and the site of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mk 1:3-4+)!
The only other passagethat has early morning describes Ezra the priest
reading the Word of God to the people
Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, womenand
all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventhmonth.
3 He read from it before the square which was in front of the WaterGate
from early morning until midday, in the presence ofmen and women, those
who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the
law. (Nehemiah 8:2-3)
The relatedphrase early in the morning is used 33x in the Bible with some
interesting associations - Gen. 19:27; Gen. 20:8; Gen. 21:14;Gen. 22:3; Gen.
28:18;Gen. 31:55;Exod. 8:20; Exod. 9:13; Exod. 24:4; Exod. 34:4; Jos. 3:1;
Jos. 6:12;Jos. 7:16; Jos. 8:10;Jdg. 6:28; Jdg. 19:5; Jdg. 19:8; 1 Sam. 1:19; 1
Sam. 15:12;1 Sam. 17:20;1 Sam. 29:10;2 Ki. 3:22; 2 Ki. 19:35; 2 Chr. 20:20;
Job 1:5; Prov. 27:14; Isa. 5:11; Isa. 37:36; Matt. 20:1; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 21:38;
Lk. 24:22; Jn. 8:2
And was praying there - Praying is in the imperfect tense which pictures Jesus
as praying through the early morning hours. What is He praying? The
Gospels do not tell us, but the contextat leastgives us a clue, for Mark 1:38
says " so that I may preach there also;for that is what I came for.” So it is at
leasta reasonable assumptionto say that Jesus to some degree was praying in
preparation for preaching -- praying for spiritual power, praying for ears and
hearts to be open to spiritual truth (because of1 Cor 2:14+, Lk 24:45+), etc. If
this is the case, it is a goodpattern for all preachers of the Word to seek to set
aside time to saturate their preparation for preaching with prayer before the
presentationof their preaching, so that the Spirit might touch them and their
messagewith sacredanointing from the Lord God! (See quote from Dr

Martyn Lloyd Jones - SacredAnointing - then Listen to the 5 minute
exhortation The Missing PresenceofGod by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones)
In the Lord’s service we cannot“run on empty”!
Jesus shows us “to give out you must take in!”
McGee points out "We’ve gone through a busy day with Him, and you would
think that after such an exhausting Sabbath Day, He would sleeplate the next
morning. But we read" was praying! McGee goesonto add "I know a lot of
preachers take Mondayoff after a busy Sunday. I don’t blame them for that. I
formerly did it myself, but I haven’t done it for quite a few years now. No, we
see Jesus rising up early to go to a solitary place to pray. What a lessonthis is
for us."
Was praying (4336)(proseuchomai pros = toward, facing, before
[emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays in seeking God’s face]
+ euchomai = originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray
or to vow. Greek technicalterm for invoking a deity) in the NT is always used
of prayer addressedto God (to Him as the objectof faith and the One who
will answerone’s prayer) and means to speak consciously(with or without
vocalization)to Him, with a definite aim (See study of noun proseuche).
Proseuchomaiencompassesallthe aspects ofprayer -- submission, confession,
petition, supplication (may concernone's own need), intercession(concerned
with the needs of others), praise, and thanksgiving.
Vine says that proseuchomaicarries with it a notion of worship (but see the
Greek word for worship = proskuneo)which is not presentin the other words
for prayer (eg, aiteo, deomai, both of which involve spokensupplication)
Wuest adds that the prefixed preposition pros...
gives it the idea of definiteness and directness in prayer, with the
consciousnessonthe part of the one praying that he is talking face to face with
God...(thus proseuchomai)speaks also ofthe consciousness onthe part of the
one who prays, of the fact of God’s presence and His listening ear.

Life Application Study Bible - It's easyto be so caughtup with ministry that
you neglecttimes of solitude, individual worship, and prayer. Perhaps you
need to redesignyour schedule to find time for earnestprayer. It is vitally
important to: (1) seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes overyour
thoughts; (2) withdraw from noise and demands so you canfocus on God; (3)
take Jesus'attitude of regular communion with the Father; (4) reflect on the
priorities Jesus had for his life; (5) determine to pray on a more regular basis,
not just in times of crisis. If prayer was important for Jesus, then it must be
important for his followers. Pray—evenif you have to getup very early in the
morning to do it!
Brian Bell quips that "Mostof us our too busy to stop & do nothing. We feel
like we need to be active every minute of the day. We confuse busy-ness with
being productive, successful, efficient, effective and meaningful. Let’s admit
it...prayer just doesn't feelbusy or active enough! Busy makes us feelworth
while. If we’re not doing something it makes us feelwe are feel lazy, or that
we’re wasting our time." (Sermon)
E. Stanley Jones once describedprayer as “a time exposure to God”
The longerwe are exposedto God,
The more we will bear His image!
Kent Hughes reminds that “ThoughJesus was God, He did not live His life as
God apart from the Father, but rather as a man in dependence upon God.”
David Thompson on Jesus...praying - There are three times in the Gospelof
Mark where the private prayer of Jesus is stressed:1) At the beginning of His
Galileanministry (Mk 1:35); 2) After the feeding of the 5000 (Mk 6:46); 3) In
the Gardenof Gethsemane (Mk 14:32-39). Now this was important to Jesus,
but it was also a critical lessonto those who will fish for men. They need to be
men of prayer. Many times in this book Jesus will challenge His disciples to
pray (Mk 9:29; 11:24; 13:18;14:38). One naturally wonders what Jesus was
praying about. He certainly is not confessing sin because He does not have any
sin. By the response He gives to His disciples when they find Him, He was
certainly praying about the will of God, specificallyin His Divine Assignment,

which primarily was preaching (Mk 1:38). We will not ever know God’s
specific will for our lives if we do not spend time in prayer. Jesus, by His own
example is teaching us that. If prayer was a necessityto Him, how much more
is it to us? No matter how hectic our schedule, we need personaltime spent
with God in prayer. (Sermon)
Spurgeon- While it was yet dark, he stole awayeven from his favored
disciples that he might be alone with his Father.
Look no man in the face till thou hastseenthe face of God.
Speak thou with none till thou hast had speechwith the MostHigh.
C H Spurgeon
Spurgeon- His hard day’s work probably ran on far into the night. Yet, “a
greatwhile before day,” he was up at the sacredwork of supplication. The
more work we have to do with men for God, the longerwe ought to be at work
with God for men. If you plead with men, you cannot hope to prevail unless
you first plead with God. And, inasmuch as our Lord had greatsuccess the
day before, it teaches us that the greatestsuccessdoes not release us from the
necessityofstill waiting upon God. If God has given you much, my brother, go
with thy basket, and ask for more. Neverstay thy prayer. Increase thy
spiritual hunger, and God will increase the richness of the gift he will bestow
upon thee.
Brian Bell applies this Scripture on Jesus'praying in solitude - Try scheduling
time alone w/God at the beginning of the day!
Ps.119:147 Irise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope
in Your word.
Ps.5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I
will direct it to You, And I will look up. [David]
Ps.88:13 Butto You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my
prayer comes before You. [sons of Korah]

Is.26:9 With my soul I have desiredYou in the night, Yes, by my spirit within
me I will seek You early.
One mother heard her 3-year-olddaughter answerthe phone in the next
room, while doing her devotions…"Mymom is having her emotions now. Can
she callyou back?"
“MeetHim in the morning if you want Him through the day!”3 5. Stare into
His face…& don’t move! [like the camera!]
I wonder if daily our faces showed, like the cameras film, registering how
much exposure we had to God that day, if we’d be a little more diligent to this
important task? (Like Moses w/10 comm)
Prayer should end in Action! - When you say Amen, you should hear God yell,
Action! At the end of your prayer, when you say AMEN, what ACTION do
you do?
Do you pray for the sick and then leave it at that? Or do you pray for the sick,
and then pick up the phone and call them to let them know you are thinking
about them. Do you ask if you can do anything for them? A hot meal brought
to their home? Any medicine they need to have picked up?
Do you pray for the poor and hope God does something about the poor? Or
do you pray and ask God to use you? Do you put actions to your prayer,
giving to the poor yourself, or donating food to our CARE Ministry?
Do you pray for church/kingdom growth and then hope that God inspires
someone to do something about it? Or do you pray and then sayas Jesus said,
“I have to go somewhere so I can tell someone about the GoodNews of Jesus.”
When you say Amen,
you should hear God yell, Action!
ILLUSTRATION OF NEED TO REST - Mrs. Lettie Cowman’s book,
Springs in the Valley, she shares a tale from African colonialhistory: It was a
century or more ago that in the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making

a long trek. Natives of the area were hired to carry the loads. The first day
they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy
journey. But the secondmorning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For
some strange reasonthey just sat and rested. When asked about the reason
for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too
fast the first day, and that they were now Slide#17 waiting for their souls to
catchup with their bodies. 2
Daniel Akin - It is interesting to note that there are three prayers of Jesus in
Mark:
1) At the beginning of the Gospeland His ministry in Galilee when His
ministry is being defined. (Mk 1:35)
2) In the middle of the Gospelafterthe feeding of the five thousand (Mk 6:46).
John 6:15 informs us it was at this time the people wanted “to take Him by
force to make Him King.”
3) Nearthe conclusionof the Gospelwhen He is in Gethsemane. (Mk 14:32-
42) –
All three prayers take place at a criticalmoment in the life of our Lord. –
The setting for Jesus’prayer in eachinstance is darkness and solitude.
All three situations recallallusions to the wilderness and the cosmic conflict of
our Lord with Satanand the demonic hostin their domain and territory.
Our Lord finds strength in the private solitude of prayer and intimate
fellowship with His Father. What a valuable lessonand insight too many of us
neglect!(Sermon)
J D Jones on THE POWER ROOM - And let us never forgetthat what is true
of Christ's sermons is also true of Christ's miracles—theycost. Power, one of
the evangelists tells us, went forth from Him (Luke 8:46+). Every actof
healing was a drain upon His vitality. It costHim life to restore life to others.

Now if that be so He must have been a tired Christ that Sabbath evening. The
day had costHim much in desire and compassionand sympathy, and He
might fairly claim to have earned His rest. But it is not of restwe read, but of
new and costlyactivities. (see Mk 1:32,33)All the city at the door, and within
a tired Christ! But he makes no mention of weariness.Out of Simon's house
into the midst of that pathetic crowdHe passes, carrying healing and blessing
with Him. What tireless activity is this! Christ spent Himself in the service of
men. He lived under the constraint of a greaturgency. "We must work the
works of Him that sent Me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can
work" (John 9:4). And side by side with this picture of Christ in the midst of
His activities, we have a picture of Christ in the midst of His devotions. "In
the morning, a great while before day, He rose up and went out, and departed
into a desertplace, and there prayed" (ver. 35, R.V.). There is the most close
and intimate connexionbetweenthe one picture and the other. I was once
takenthrough the engineering shops in the Devonport dockyard. I saw
innumerable machines busy at various kinds of work, most of them making
considerable noise in the process. Thenmy conductor took me to a room
which by contrastwas almostsilent, where a great engine was working
smoothly and quietly. "The Power-room" "This,"saidhe, "is the power-
room." In that quiet room I found the secretofthe multifarious activities of
the machines in the various shops. In Mark 1:32-34, Mark has been showing
us our Lord's various activities. In Mark 1:35 he takes us to the "power-
room." Back of all the activities of the synagogue andthe streetlay a life of
secretprayer. In communion with His Father, Jesus refreshedand renewed
Himself for further labour and toil amongstmen. "A greatwhile before
day"—Jesus made time for prayer! He snatched it from His sleep. An
Example for us. What an object-lessonas to the indispensable necessityof
prayer! We realise the obligationof service in these days, and consequentlywe
have become very "busy." But are we neglecting the "POWER ROOM"? We
must keepthe balance true. We must never become too busy to pray. "This
kind," said our Lord, "cancome out by nothing, save by prayer" (Mark 9:29,
R.V.). (Mark Commentary)
RETREAT TO A QUIET PLACE

In the Walt Disney production of Alice in Wonderland, Alice comes upon the
white rabbit and wants to talk to him, but he has no time and, as he scampers
away, sings the following song:
I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date,
I have no time to say good‑ bye, hello,
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.
When I wave, I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave,
I run and then I hop, hop, hop,
I wish that I could fly.
There's danger if I dare to stop
And here's the reasonwhy,
You see, I' m overdue, I'm in a rabbit stew,
Can't even say good‑ bye, hello,
I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.
In this age of fast food, mega-speedcomputers, around the world information
and rapid transit, it is difficult to slow down and spend time with the Lord.
Jesus was also tempted to run life in the fast lane. After all, He was only going
to be on earth for a limited amount of time. Thirty three years in which to
change the world. And the first thirty were spent in a carpenter’s shop. By
every modern standard, He ought to have been rushing at breakneck speed.
And yet, Jesus knew how to stop. (John Stevenson)
Our Demanding Schedules

The whole city was gatheredtogetherat the door. Then He healed many. —
Mark 1:33-34
Today's Scripture: Mark 1:32-39
Is your life too busy? Business deadlines, productivity quotas, and shuttling
children to lessons and sporting events can really fill up your schedule. It’s
easyto think, If only I didn’t have so many responsibilities, then I could walk
in vital union with God.
Yet C. S. Lewis wiselypoints out that no one was busier than Christ. “Our
model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous
demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the
interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine life operating under human
conditions.”
We read of Jesus in Capernaum: “At evening, when the sun had set, they
brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And
the whole city was gatheredtogetherat the door. Then He healedmany”
(Mark 1:32-34). The next day Christ sought out a solitary place and prayed.
There He receiveddirection from His Fatherto pursue a demanding ministry
in another place. Our Lord communed with His Father and depended on the
Spirit to minister through Him.
Is your schedule demanding? Follow the example of Jesus and set aside a
specific time for prayer. Then depend upon God’s power to help you meet
eachday’s demands. By: Dennis Fisher (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC
Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights
reserved)
Reflect& Pray
The many tasks we face eachday
Can burden and oppress,
But spending time with God eachday
Can bring relief from stress.

—Sper
To keepyour life in balance, lean on the Lord.
Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be
exalted in the earth! —Psalm46:10
Today's Scripture: Psalm46
As I sat in the dentist’s chair, I bracedmyself for the drilling that would begin
my rootcanal. I was ready for the worst, and my body language and facial
expressionexposedmy sense of dread. The dentist lookedat me and smiled,
saying, “It’s okay, Bill. Try to relax.”
That isn’t easyto do. It is actually very difficult to try (requiring effort and
exertion) to relax (requiring an absence ofeffort and exertion). Try and relax
just don’t seemto fit together—notonly in the dentist’s chair, but in the
spiritual realm as well.
Far too often I don’t limit my efforts of resistance to visits at the dentist’s
office. In my relationship with Christ, I find myself not pressing for God’s
purposes but for my own interests. In those moments, the hardest thing for me
to do is “try to relax” and genuinely trust Godfor the outcome of life’s trials.
In Psalm 46:10, we read, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exaltedin the earth!” In the moments when my
heart is anxious, this verse reminds me to “be still, and know.” Now, if I can
only put that into practice and rest confidently in His care, I’ll be at peace.By:
Bill Crowder (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids,
MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Reflect& Pray
Lord, we know that true rest can be found only in You. Help us to end our
striving and to trust that You will provide. In Your loving arms we find rest.
Amen.

God knows the future, so we are safe in His hands.
Are You Distracted?
Martha was distractedwith much serving. —Luke 10:40
Today's Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
In data collectedfrom over 20,000 Christians in 139 countries, The Obstacles
to Growth Survey found that, on average, more than 40 percent of Christians
around the world saythey “often” or “always” rush from task to task. About
60 percent of Christians say that it’s “often” or “always” true that the
busyness of life gets in the wayof developing their relationship with God. It’s
clearthat busyness does distract us from our fellowship with Him.
It seems that Martha too allowedbusyness to distract her from spending time
with Jesus. Whenshe welcomedHim and His disciples into her home, she was
occupiedwith preparing the food, washing their feet, and making sure they
were comfortable. All of these things had to be done, but Luke seems to
intimate that Martha’s busyness in preparation degeneratedinto busywork
that distractedher from reflecting on Jesus’words and enjoying time with
Him (Luke 10:38-42).
What about us? Are we rushing from task to task, allowing the busyness of
life and even work for Jesus to distract us from enjoying sweetfellowshipwith
Him? Let’s ask God to help us diminish our distractions by making Jesus our
focus. By: Marvin Williams (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries,
Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Reflect& Pray
Lord, I don’t want to miss out on moments of intimacy with You. Help me not
to be so busy that I fail to devote time eachday to prayer and reading Your
Word. Amen.
If you are too busy for God, you are too busy.

Spiritual Decompression
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter5:7
On May 24, 1883, New Yorkers celebratedthe completion of the Brooklyn
Bridge, the first steel-wire suspensionbridge. This engineering feat, however,
was not accomplishedwithout sacrifice. To lay the bridge’s giant foundations
in the water, huge watertightchambers called“caissons”had to be used. Men
would work in them for 8 hours while under tremendous air pressure.
Returning to normal atmospheric pressure resulted in terrible symptoms later
known as caissondisease.It was discoveredthat a rapid decreasein air
pressure releasestiny nitrogen bubbles in the blood. This cuts off the oxygen
supply, resulting in nausea, achyjoints, paralysis, and even death. Today,
scientists know that the use of a decompressionchamberallows a gradual
reduction of pressure, which prevents the nitrogen bubbles from forming.
Similarly, we need a place to reduce the pressures of life. God has provided a
way to “spiritually decompress.” A personaldevotional time can be a place
where burdens are lifted (Mark 1:35-39). There we can castall our care upon
Him (1 Peter5:7). By focusing on God’s sufficiency we can experience His
peace (Isa. 26:3). Do you have a place of spiritual decompression? By:Dennis
Fisher(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. —
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Reflect& Pray
There is a quiet resting place,
Where peace and joy are found;
Where burdens may be laid aside
And faith and love abound.
—Moore
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. —Isaiah40:31

Be Still And Know
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be
exalted in the earth! —Psalm46:10
Today's Scripture: Psalm46:1-11
In February 1946, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computerwas
introduced at the University of Pennsylvania. The Electronic Numerical
Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) filled a 30-by-50-footroom, weighed50
tons, and used enough electricity every secondto powera typical home for a
week. Today, a pocketcalculatorcontains more computing power than
ENIAC did.
A decade ago, one observernoted that computers and other hi-tech gadgets
have “snuck up on us and we don’t realize it.” He went on to speak of how
wonderful it is to go where there are no computers, phones, or radios, or to go
to the beachand listen to the waves.
Undisturbed stillness has become more elusive and therefore more necessary
than ever to seek. The Lord God said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I
will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm
46:10).
A respite from activity allows us to focus our thoughts on the majesty of God.
A quiet place helps us to listen to Him. Away from voice-mailand e-mail, we
turn from our daily schedule to His eternal plan.
In our fast-pacedworld, we need to be still and acknowledgethatGod is in
charge. By: David C. McCasland(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC
reserved)
Reflect& Pray
Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone. —Longstaff
Spending quiet time with God will bring quiet rest from God.
Break The Routine
When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by
Himself to pray. —Matthew 14:23
When was the lasttime you read the Bible while sitting under an oak tree?
Have you ever prayed while the coolwaterof a creek ranacross your feet?
Wouldn’t it be enjoyable to meditate on God’s Word while watching the sun
come up over the horizon?
It’s not possible, of course, for all of us to do all those things—but it is possible
for eachof us to break the normal routine of our time alone with God.
Sometimes, the habits of our devotional life canget in the wayof our growing
closerto God. In fact, at times they can grow stale and boring.
But there is nothing boring about a God who createdthe earth in all its
splendor and variety. There is no lack of excitement in worshiping a Savior
who was willing to die a horrible death for us and pay the penalty for our sins.
There is nothing common about being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who
empowers us to accomplishGod’s will.
So how do we avoid dry devotional times? By breaking the routine of the
usual and adding some variety to our personal time alone with God.
In His worship, Jesus found solitary havens awayfrom the busyness of people
and ministry (Mark 1:35). We need to do the same. We need to break the
routine. By: Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries,
Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Reflect& Pray

THINKING IT THROUGH
Are you spiritually dry? Try changing the routine of your quiet time with the
Lord—a different time, place, method, book of the Bible, or topic.
Time spent with the Lord is time well spent.
In The Morning
In the morning . . . He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He
prayed. —Mark 1:35
Today's Scripture:Mark 1:23-39
Are you so rushed during the day that you find it hard to take even a few
minutes to spend with God? Many people setaside time in the early morning
before they get caught up in the hectic pace of the day.
I read about a very busy man who somehow manages to find time for giving
the day a spiritual jump-start. He’s Dr. Ben Carson, chiefof pediatric
neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a position he assumedin
1984 whenhe was only 33 years old.
Here’s Carson’s testimonyabout the value of putting spiritual things first:
“I’ve found that having a morning ritual—meditation or some quiet reading
time—can setthe tone for the whole day. Every morning, I spend a half-hour
reading the Bible, especiallythe book of Proverbs. There’s so much wisdom
there. During the day, if I encountera frustrating situation, I think back to
one of the verses that I read that morning.”
Jesus facedbusy days filled with demanding crowds of people. In Mark’s
gospelwe read, “In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He
went out and departed to a solitary place;and there He prayed” (1:35).
Do you take time to read God’s Word and pray? Try it in the morning. It can
transform your day. By: Vernon Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC
reserved)

Reflect& Pray
In the stillness of the morning,
Before a busy day of care,
How sweetto be alone with God
Through His holy Word and prayer.
—Anderson
Let Christ be first in your thoughts in the morning,
and lastin your thoughts at night.
Was Jesus a Morning Person?
by John Michalak
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and
departed into a desertedplace, and prayed there.
Mark 1:35
Was Jesus a morning person?
While retaining His divine nature, Jesus emptied Himself and became fully
human. He felt the same human need and weaknessyou and I do. So, have
you ever wonderedwhether Jesus was possiblya night-owl who, nevertheless,
had the discipline to rise early and seek His Heavenly Father?
Now, it canbe debated whether the Bible makes seeking Godin the morning
an absolute rule for all believers. It says we should seek Godmorning, noon,
and night. But, what’s the principle here? Isn’t it that we should regularly
seek Godin such a way that we shut ourselves awayfrom the demands of
society, friends, and family? That, by our disciplined actions, we on a daily

basis should schedule ways to set God above all the things that compete for
our heart and mind?
Mostareas of spiritual obedience aren’t public or full of fanfare and
emotional inspiration. Loving God and others well is often about private
routine and regulardiscipline. Jesus may or may not have been a morning
person, but He knew that in order for Him to rise in His relationship with the
Father, He neededthe discipline to rise and seek Him every day, especiallyon
the days He didn’t feellike it.
We all must pray for the discipline to rise.
Are you a morning person?
Tell me…are you in the habit of starting the day in the presence ofGod?
It’s not always easyto include a time of spiritual renewalin our morning
routines, is it?
There are mornings when…
We maximize our time by reading the Word via a mobile app like
YouVersion,
We pray in the car, bus, or train, listening to praise music.
But there are also mornings when…
We manage to pray…after 5 coffees!
Busy with the kids, we don’t have time.
We try to concentrate on a passagein the Bible…but our thoughts wander all
over the place.

Sometimes we manage to get up an hour earlierto read the Bible, praise God,
and pray…but we have to confess, mostof the time we prefer to go back to
sleep…
Many of us say, “I’m not a morning person”!Yet, eachmorning is a
wonderful gift from God, a new beginning, an opportunity to start the day
with what matters the most to us: a new and fresh relationship with the Savior
of our souls.
I love this passage where King David describes his mornings with God: “In
the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests
before you and wait expectantly.” (the Bible, Psalm 5:3, NIV) The Passion
Translationsays it this way: “At eachand every sunrise you will hear my
voice as I prepare my sacrifice ofprayer to you. Every morning I lay out the
pieces of my life on the altar and waitfor your fire to fall upon my heart.”
Of course, we won’t be able to meditate and intercede for three hours every
morning! But let’s not allow this to prevent us from taking a moment, even if
it’s short, for a one-on-one conversationwith our Heavenly Father.
Our days go by so quickly, with their share of unexpected events and of tasks
to accomplish. The Lord invites us, before the day even begins, to bring our
hearts into harmony with His. This way, we’ll have fuel for the whole day!
So now you know…that’s exactlywhy you receive my messages veryearly
every morning (for most readers). 😊
I pray these messages encourageyou to grow in your own intimacy with God,
who loves you above all and who takes immense pleasure enjoying your
presence and helping you enjoy His.
Thank you for being one of my faithful readers. I appreciate you so much and
love you with the love of the Lord.
Have a beautiful, blessedday!
https://jesus.net/miracle/are-you-a-morning-person/

The Jesus-InspiredMorning Routine That ChangedMy Life
By Brandon Hilgemann / 11/01/2017 /5 Comments
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What’s your morning routine?
You have one whether you plan it or not.
Morning used to be the worst part of my day. My alarm would go off, I’d hit
snooze, but soonthe kids would barge in wanting breakfast.
I’d look at the clock, realize how late we were, and panic.
My kids need to be dressed, fed, and off to school. If we didn’t hurry, my wife
and I would be late for work. And heavenforbid there be any traffic because I
had an early meeting and no time to spare.
After work, I’d hurry home to help with dinner, take my kids to their
activities, help with homework, and then put the kids in bed. Then, my wife
and I would talk for a bit or stay up too late watching Netflix togetherbefore
we passedout, exhausted.
The next day would be the same thing all over again. I couldn’t keepdoing
this.
But one day a Bible verse about Jesus changedmy life. I’d read it countless of
times before, but never put it to the test.habi
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus gotup, left the house
and went off to a solitaryplace, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
I always saythat I want to be more like Jesus, but Jesus was a morning
person. I was a stay up late and hit the snooze button three times person.

Did Jesus know something I didn’t? It was worth a try.
I noticed that Jesus did three things that I didn’t do:
Jesus gotup early, before the sun. I got up late, cursing the sun.
Jesus left the house and walkedsomewhere. I drove everywhere.
Jesus spenttime with God alone. My kids never left me alone.
So I wrote out a little plan that was easyto remember and follow. Then, I set
my phone alarm for 5:30 am and went to bed early.
It was hard to wake up the first few mornings, but I felt the difference almost
immediately.
I wasn’t stressed. I wasn’t yelling, “Kids, hurry! We’re late!” I had plenty of
time.
SoonI noticed that I had more energy, felt better, and was getting more done
every day.
Plus, my wife keeps saying how much happier I seemand how much smoother
our family runs. And you know what they say: Happy wife, happy life.
So here’s the morning routine I now follow.
Morning REPS (30-60 minutes)
Every morning, I wake up at 5:30 am (before my kids getup at 6:30), and do
what I call my “Morning REPs.”
It’s a simple acronym for my routine: Read, Exercise, Pray, Shower. It helps
me remember my focus of wanting to be more like Jesus everyday because
training requires daily reps.
The order I follow is more like ERPS, but that’s not a word.
Here’s how it breaks downfor me.

Read(10-20 Minutes): Jesus spent time alone with God. Part of spending time
with God involves hearing from God. So I read my Bible every day. In a few
minutes a day, I read the whole Bible every year.
Exercise (10-15 Minutes):Jesus left the house. Now, I don’t know if this was
for exercise purposes. He walkedeverywhere. But since I drive everywhere,
my exercise was lacking. So, I leave my house like Jesus every morning and go
for a quick run. My goalis a mile a day. If I pushed for more, I would burn
myself out and tempted to quit. One mile every day is far better than three
miles only one day. And because ofthis discipline, I lost weightand have more
energy to attack the day. (Time: 10-15 Minutes)
Pray (5-15 Minutes): Jesus prayed in solitude. So I spend time every morning
alone with God in prayer. Praying before my kids wake up affords me the
solitude that I need to focus on God.
Shower(5-10 Minutes): I don’t know if Jesus washedeverymorning, but I
sweata lot after a run. I need to showerbefore anyone is unfortunate enough
to smell me. So I take a quick, cold showerbecause (1)it helps me stop
sweating and (2) I read that cold showers help energize you and make you
more alert.
I need my morning REPS. It was hard at first, but now it’s a habit. I crave
this time.
Jesus knew what he was doing, and I’ve never been disappointed by imitating
him.
Mornings have gone from the worstto the best part of my day.
12 Morning Challenge
If this resonates withyou, here’s my challenge:follow Jesus’example for the
next 12 days (because twelve is a goodbiblical number).
Get up early, go for a walk (or run), and spend time alone with God.
Follow my Morning REPS, or do whateverworks for you. I guarantee you’ll
feel the difference.

You will be less stressed, more energized, and more devoted to walking daily
with Jesus.
My Daily Encouragementby Ryan Maher
Sherly Raharjo • 5 years ago • edited
This is a goodarticle. I'm excited and enthusiastic to do that everyday.
Honestly, I'm become a morning personbecause my mom has a food bussiness
and I'm helping mom to cook everymorning. Before I go to a market to sell
food, I'm always praying to Jesus for blessing all my days. And I fell a whole
day it's full of blessing, protecting, and joyful. You have to try become a "
morning person" to be closerwith Jesus. Thank you.Jbu
Ryan Maher Mod Sherly Raharjo • 5 years ago
Hey Sherly! Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to read the
article! Your morning time with the Lord sounds great!
Chris Ford • a year ago
Beautiful example. I was going thru Proverbs and I started thinking about
waking early.
PARABLE: Giving your morning to God is like using your phone when the
battery is at 100%(full charge) – Your phone spent the night re-charging.
Now, it is ready to go for the day. You could give God the last3% of your
battery life (when you are falling asleep, etc.) – this is your choice.

Vunny Zevania Wijaya • 5 years ago
Thank you for posting :) Keep up the goodwork. God bless you.
Camila Sandoval• 5 years ago
Wuau, it's really nice to read things like this. (I'm from Chile, Ihope my
english canbe perflectly understood). Now, I'm checking your blog twice a
day, so I cansee if you have uploaded anything new :P.
Thank you so much, it would be really nice if you have some things in spanish
too, so I can share them with my family and prayer group. (For them to read
them, I'm ok if I read it in English =) ). This article reminds me that I do have
to chage things and make them like, right now, because I have to put God first
in my daily routine as you said and not the last one, this has really touched
me, I'm definitely not a morning person, and now that I'm on my summer
holidays, my clock has changedit all, I have problems to fall asleepearlier,
because now I'm falling asleepat 4 a.m. in the morning. I have to change my
priorities.
I hope you canshare more things, this has helped me to ecouragemyselfto
have more faith than usual, which was something that I had problms i the past
few days. Thak you so much, Godbless you and retributes you a thousand
times more. ^^
Tin Tran • 5 years ago • edited
Like some of the below people, I'm a complete night owl. I have always been.
HoweverI do know that Jesus had his quiet time in the morning. I'm trying to
start my day at 6 but that often doesn't leave me enoughtime to pray,
especiallysince I've got my IG account(@humbledisciple) I'm praying for
many people on top of my other prayer points. I haven't fully shifted my
routine to mornings yet to get up raven even earlier but your article has

inspired me a lot. I will try to get to bed earlierso that I can wake up earlier,
e.g. 5am.Thank you very much Ryan. God bless you more and more brother.
He's using you on so many ways to encourage and inspire others. Keep up the
greatwork. Tin
Arminta Brown • 5 years ago
I have always been a night owl; and in the morning always dragging out of the
bed to getready for work. This article is very inspiring; and I felt the article
was talking personally to me. I am going to start spending my mornings with
God. Thanks Ryan for daily encouragement. GodBless
Ryan Maher Mod Arminta Brown• 5 years ago
Thanks so much Arminta! So glad the article inspired you! Thanks for your
kind words!
Karen • 5 years ago
Very encouraging, I must make the change!!!
Ryan Maher Mod Karen • 5 years ago
Thanks Karen! You can do it!!! :)
Mollie • 5 years ago
This is an amazing article!! Very powerful! This really encouragedme to
continue waking up early (and perhaps earlier)to spend more time with God.
We deepenour relationship with Him when we talk to Him, spend time with
Him, and listen to Him (read His Word). And of course, memorizing verses
too! He wants us to meditate on His Word, which guides us in every situation.
Praise Godfor giving us life and His Word!! 😊👍☝️🙏

Ryan Maher Mod Mollie • 5 years ago
Hey Mollie! Thanks so much for the comments! I'm so glad the article
encouragedyou! You can do it! God bless you!
Steph • 5 years ago • edited
That's amazing, I will begin to try this.. Slowly.. As I'm not anywhere near a
morning person either. I struggle so much to wake up eachmorning and then
rush to work.. I know waking up earlier (and going to bed earlier) for quiet
time with God and myself would have incredible benefits as my day is filled
with noise. Thank you for sharing this post, loved it ❤️
Ryan Maher Mod Steph • 5 years ago
Thanks so much Steph! Yeah I slowly starting setting my clock earlierand
earlier eachday so that it wasn't so intense to start. The keyis definitely going
to bed earlier. Try a 7-day wake up challenge where every day you wake up a
little earlier until you reach your goal!Thanks for taking the time to read and
comment! Godbless you!
By RachelWojo
A Morning Prayer
If you are a morning person, then I’m just a bit jealous of you. I try to be a
morning person. Seriously, I do. But I don’t like to talk to anyone in the
mornings for at least45 minutes after I wake up. I’m guessing that makes me
not so much a morning person. My husband is goodwith it; we’re perfectly
happy not talking to eachother for the first 45 minutes or so of the day.

But there’s one thing that changes my perspective eachday- prayer. There is
nothing like a morning prayer to getyour heart in line with what God has for
you for the day. I often fall asleeppraying and I think it helps me to wake up
praying- even though I’m not a morning person.
So on this WhimsicalWednesday, I’m sharing a morning prayer with you.
Use it as your own, print it as a reminder, or save it on your phone. Whatever
you do, pray a morning prayer- and see the difference it makes in your day.
Lord Jesus,
I praise you for the gift of another day-
For your mercies new eachmorning.
My eyes are open and my heart is beating;
Eachof those mean you have a plan for me.
This minute. This hour. This day.
I don’t know every stepof your plan for today
But I know it will be for my good.
And I’m confident it will be for your glory.
Will you lead me, Jesus? Ineed you.
Will you order my steps, eachone?
May your love flow through me
And may I embrace every opportunity
To share your love with others.

New InternationalVersion
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he
appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he
had drivenseven demons.
New Living Translation
After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday
morning, the first person who saw him was Mary
Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out
seven demons.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Appearances Of The RisenOne
Mark 16:9-14
E. Johnson
I. THEY WERE REPEATED AND VARIED, So in the history of the Church
and the world; there are epochs of the manifestation of Christ and of apparent
concealment. Thoughhistory in one sense repeats itself, in another it does not.

Christianity is the exhibition of the new in the old, the old in the new. And so
in the individual.
II. THEY WERE MET BY PREJUDICE. New truth finds in us something
ever to over-come. The victory over a prejudice gives us cause forthanks;
what we really possessoftruth we possess becausewe have resistedit. We do
not understand it till we have contendedagainstit. "We may believe more
surely in the Resurrection, because theywere so slow to believe."
III. THE SPIRITUAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITYIS THE REAL
EVIDENCE, Unless we see that Christ's resurrectioncoincides with spiritual
truth and needs, we shall not see it at all. Mediate knowledge cannever be free
from doubt; certainty lies in that which is immediate. - J.
Biblical Illustrator
Now when Jesus was risen.
Mark 16:9
Evidence of the fact of Christ's resurrection
Canon Liddon.
The empty tomb of Jesus recalls anevent which is as well attestedas any in
history. It is so attestedas to put the idea of what is called"illusion" out of the
question. The main purpose, the first duty, of the apostolic ministry was to
witness to the factthat Christ had risen. The apostles did not teachthe
resurrectionas a revealed truth, as. they taught, e.g., the doctrine of
justification; they taught the resurrection as a fact of experience — a fact of
which they themselves had had experience. And this is why the different
evangelists do not report the same appearances ofour risen Lord. Eachone
reports that which he himself witnessed, or that which was witnessedby the
eyewitness onwhose authority he writes. Put the various attestations together,
and the evidence is irresistible. That which these witnessesattestmust be true,
unless they have conspired to deceive us, or are themselves deceived. The idea
that they are deceived, however, cannotbe entertained by any man who

understands human character;the idea that they were themselves deceivedis
inconsistentwith the characterofthe witness which they give. No doubt there
are states ofhallucination, states of mental tension, in which a man may fancy
that he sees something which does not in fact presentitself to his senses. The
imagination for the moment is so energetic as to impose upon the senses an
impression which corresponds to that, whateverit be, which creates an
emotion within the soul. Naymore, the New Testamentitselfspeaks ofinward
revelations, sometimes during sleep, sometimes during the waking hours, as
was that rapture of which St. Paul wrote, into "the third heaven, whether in
the body I cannottell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell — God
knoweth." But the accounts of the appearances ofour risen Lord do not at all
admit of either of these explanations. If He had been seenonly for a passing
moment, only by one or two individuals separately, only in one setof
circumstances, under one set of conditions againand againrepeated, then
there would have been room for the suspicionof a morbid hallucination, or at
leastof an inward vision. But what is the real state of the case? The risen One
was seenfive times on the day that He was raisedfrom the dead; He was seen
a week after;He was seenmore than a month after that; and frequently, on
many occasions, during the interval; He was seenby women alone, by men
alone, by parties of two and three, by disciples assembledin conclave, by
multitudes of men, five hundred at a time; He was seenin a garden, in a
public roadway, in an upper chamber, on a mountain in Galilee, on the shore
by the lake, in the village where His friends dwelt. He taught as before His
death, He instructed, He encouraged, He reproved, He blessed, He uttered
prolonged discourses whichwere remembered, which were recorded; He
explained passagesofScripture, He revealedgreat doctrines, He gave
emphatic commands, He made large and new promises, He communicated
ministerial powers;and they who pressedaround Him knew that His risen
body was no phantom form, for He ate and drank before them just as in the
days of yore, and they could, if they would, have pressedtheir very fingers
into the fresh wounds in His hands and feetand side. In short, He left on a
group of minds, most unlike eachother, one profound ineffaceable
impression, that they had seenand lived with One who had died indeed and
had risen again, and that this fact was in itself and in its import so precious, so
pregnant with meaning and with blessing to the human race, that it threw in

their minds all other facts into relative insignificance;it was worth living for,
it was worth dying for.
(Canon Liddon.)
He appeared first to Mary Magdalene
George Venabbes.
The Saviour's first appearance afterresurrectionwas to a woman. Forall He
had died. But not to an assembledworld does He manifest Himself now that
He has risen victorious o'er the grave; not to angels, or apostles;not to the
faithful Joseph, orthe true-hearted Nicodemus;but to a woman!
I. THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON TO WHOM CHRIST
APPEARED. A woman, and an inhabitant of a distant and unimportant town
bordering towards the Gentile frontier, who had been possessedof demons,
until Christ reachedforth to her the hand of pity.
II. THE CIRCUMSTANCESUNDER WHICH HE APPEARED TO HER. He
calledher by her name.
III. THE GRAND TRUTH HERE ILLUSTRATED.
1. It was not a mere chance encounter. Christ having already left the tomb,
must have purposely concealedHimself from all His disciples save the one
whom He wanted to see and comfort.
2. Jesus revealedHimself to her, unaccompanied by any. No angelhosts:
Christ was "allin all."
3. The manifestation was afforded in a garden to a woman. Eden: Eve.
(George Venabbes.)
The powerof the gospelto restore the fallen
W. Marsh, M. A.

The flee grace of the gospel, and the holiness it produces, distinguish it from
every other system. It both justifies and sanctifies. In its method of justifying,
it gives glory to God, and brings peace to man. In its method of sanctifying, it
displays the fulness of grace, and delivers from the powerof Satan.
I. THOSE WHO ARE MOST UNDER SATANIC INFLUENCE, ARE YET
WITHIN THE REACH OF THE GOSPEL.
1. The power of evil spirits would be exerted over both body and soul, if they
were not restrainedby a greaterpower. As it is, Satanblinds the mind; works
powerfully in the hearts of the children of disobedience;puts it into men's
hearts to betray the best of Masters, andto lie againstthe best Friend. All
sins, whether againstGod or againstmen, are committed in consequence of
his temptation.
2. No power cancounteractthis evil influence but that which is Divine. In
heathen countries Satan reigns uncontrolled; in Christian countries his
devices are revealed, all his malice is baffled, his kingdom is overthrown.
3. The gospelnot merely delivers men from Satanic influence, but exalts men
into the most holy characters.
II. THE GOSPELCAN EFFECTTHE REFORMATIONOF THE MOST
ABANDONED. No soonerwas MaryMagdalene dispossessed, than she
devotes herselfto the service of her Lord. So with all who heartily embrace
Christ's religion. The power of sin in them is destroyed, the influence of Satan
is dissolved, and they become willing captives of Christ's love. , in one of his
apologies,says, "O Emperor; we, who were formerly adulterers, are now
chaste;we, who used magic charms, now depend on the immortal God; we,
who loved money, now cheerfully contribute to the wants of all; we, who
would not sit down with those who were not of the same tribe with us, now
cheerfully sit among and pray for the conversion of them that hate us, and
persuade them to live according to the excellentprecepts of Christ."
1. Let us learn how admirably the gospelis adapted to the present state of
human nature. It finds us guilty, and reveals to us the sovereignmercy of God
in Christ. It subdues the corrupt heart; turns men from darkness to light, etc.

2. See whatground this affords for exertion, even in the most desperate cases.
(W. Marsh, M. A.)
Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.
I. WHO SHE WAS. Christ revealed Himself first to a woman. A woman out of
whom He had castsevendevils. She had been a specialtrophy of Christ's
delivering power. In her mighty grace had proved its power. She had become
a constantattendant on the Saviour. She spent her substance in relieving His
wants.
II. HOW SHE SOUGHT. Very early in the morning. With very great
boldness. Very faithfully: stood at sepulchre. Very earnestly — weeping.
Perseveringly. SoughtChrist only. There was much ignorance, very little
faith, but much love.
III. HOW SHE FOUND HIM. Jesus Christ was discoveredto her by a word.
Her heart owned allegianceby another word. Her next impulse was to seek
close fellowship. She then entered on His service.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Mary Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.
I. A melancholy instance of Satanic power.
II. A glorious trophy of Divine grace. The cure was unsought by her. Mary
resistedthe healing hand. She was healedby a word. She was healed
instantaneously.
III. An ardent followerof Christ.
IV. A faithful adherent to her Masterunder all trial.

V. One of the most favoured beholders of Christ.
VI. An honoured messengerofChrist to the apostles.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Woman first
C. H. Spurgeon.
Was it not most meet that a womanshould first see the risen Saviour. She was
first in the transgression, lether be first in the justification. In yon gardenshe
was first to work our woe;let her in that other garden be the first to see Him
who works our weal. She takes the apple of that bitter tree which brings us all
our sorrow;let her be the first to see the Mighty Gardener, who has planted a
tree which brings forth fruit unto everlasting life.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.
Mary Magdalene represents those who have come under the tormenting and
distracting powerof Satan, and whose lamp of joy is quenched in tenfold
night. They are imprisoned not so much in the dens of sin as in the dungeons
of sorrow;not so criminal as they are wretched;not so depraved as they are
desolate.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Demented
C. H. Spurgeon.

Persons possessedwith devils were unhappy; they found the gloomof the
sepulchre to be their most congenialresort. They were unsocialand solitary.
If they were permitted, they broke awayfrom all those dear associations of
the family circle which gave half the charms to life; they delighted to wander
in dry places, seeking restand finding none; they were pictures of misery,
images of woe. Suchwas the seven-times unhappy Magdalene, forinto her
there had entered a complete band of devils. She was overwhelmedwith seven
seas ofagony, loaded with sevenmanacles ofdespair, encircledwith seven
walls of fire. Neither day nor night afforded her rest, her brain was on fire,
and her soul foamed like a boiling cauldron.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Demented
C. H. Spurgeon.
To sum up much in few words, there is no doubt that Mary Magdalene would
have been consideredby us to be demented; she was, practically, a maniac.
Reasonwas unshipped, and Satanstoodat the helm instead of reason, and the
poor barque was hurried hither and thither under the guidance of demons.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
A modern illustration
C. H. Spurgeon.
I remember a man of excellentcharacter, well-belovedby his family and
esteemedby his neighbours, who was for twenty years envelopedin
unutterable gloom. He ceasedto attend the house of God, because he said it
was no use; and although always ready to help in every goodwork, yet he had
an abiding conviction upon him that, personally, he had no part nor lot in this
matter, and never could have. The more you talkedto him the worse he
became;even prayer seemedbut to excite him to more fearful despondency.

In the providence of God, I was called to preachthe Word in his
neighbourhood; he was induced to attend, and, by God's gracious power,
under the sermon he obtained a joyful liberty. After twenty years of anguish
and unrest, he ended his weary roamings at the foot of the cross, to the
amazement of his neighbours, the joy of his friends, and to the glory of God.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Hope for the worst
C. H. Spurgeon.
Until the gate of hell is shut upon a man, we must not ceaseto pray for him;
and if we see him hugging the very door posts of damnation, we must go to the
mercy seatand beseechthe arm of grace to pluck him from his dangerous
position. The case of Mary Magdalene is a looking glass in which many souls,
wrung with anguish, may see themselves.
(C. H. Spurgeon.
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(9-20)Now when Jesus was risenearly.—SeeNotes onMatthew 28:16-20. The
history of the verses that follow is in every way remarkable. Theyare not
found in two of the oldestMSS.—the Sinaitic and the Vatican—are markedas
doubtful in many others, and are wanting in some versions. In some of these
(e.g., in the Vatican MS.) there is a blank space left betweenMark 16:8 and
the beginning of St. Luke, as though the writer had suspended his work and
waited for materials. The absence was noticedby Jerome, who says that
“nearly all the Greek texts omit them.” Eusebius states the same factas true

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