Mark 1:35-39
“Notice what you notice.” February 14, Valentine’s Day, a normal work day for most people. But if you’re related to a flower shop, well, it’s a bit more – actually, much more than “a bit more”. So that accounts for the late post, but that’s not all. Read on…
So today, And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed (v. 35). What struck me was rising very early… while it was still dark. We’ve read that and heard it preached on many times, how Jesus rose early and prayed. But this passage really is different. Why? Go back two days in our readings. Jesus came out of the synagogue, had dinner, then healed many, many people who had come to him after sunset on the Sabbath. That is, He was already up late the night before, with all of Capernaum looking for healing. Now after being up late with healing, He rises early while it was still dark to pray. That’s more than your average “getting up early to pray”.
This really struck home this Valentine’s Day. Carol has been helping Rachel all week, getting flowers prepared and then making arrangements. Yesterday was the real crunch day. Rachel and Carol worked late, late, late! Truly, Carol did not climb into bed until 2:50 am, then was up at 6:45 am to go after it again! This while we are reading of Jesus late Sabbath healings and then rising early while it was still dark. Carol was modeling Jesus’ behavior, in real time!! A real awakening…! The passage screams at us to get our prayer house in order!
More on the rest of this reading tomorrow when we read Luke’s account…
Slava Bohu!!