“Everyone is Looking For You” – MARK 1:29-37

The demands upon His time and His presence were staggering.  One of the hallmarks of the gospel of Mark is the use of “immediately” and other urgent words.  Jesus offered something that people needed urgently.  His ministry was urgent and His word was urgent.  Demons, sickness and teaching kept His calendar full with urgent and important work.  How does he accomplish so much?  He made time for the things that were necessary.  Whether they were “strangers” or the mother-in-law of one of His close disciples, He healed them.  Imagine the scene as an entire city gathered outside the home of one of the healed ladies.

Pause to ask, “Where would these folks be the day Jesus was crucified?”  More importantly, where would they be on Pentecost or the day the gospel came back to their city in power on the lips of Peter and the apostles?  Would they have time for Him then?

We each feel the pull on our time.  Even the lazy “spend” time.  Most, however, struggle to find the time to handle the urgent, strive to allocate portions of their day for the important, and hope to find moments for the desired.  We use the term “spending time” because it is such a valuable commodity.  For those who are religious, time is a gift from God.  For the disciple of Christ Jesus, it is a burden to be carefully balanced.

Time cannot be spent in doing the urgent and important until time is invested in doing the desired.  What?  Let me clarify.  A deep desire for time with God is both urgent and important to the Christian.  In the midst of all of the excitement and the healing and the teaching and the crowds … where was Jesus?   Peter (“Simon”) and the others went looking for Jesus, and they seem to almost be chastising Him.  What could He possibly be doing that was more important than ministering to others?  Even Peter’s mother-in-law was ministering after Jesus healed her.  Service, service, service!  Right?  Time is a-wastin’, so get to it.  Jesus got up early (notice that one means of adding more time to your day is to get up EARLIER) to go pray.  Jesus needed time with the Father.

Since even the Son of Man needed this time, how much more do we?

In prayer is patience to handle the urgent.   

In prayer is strength to handle the important.   

In prayer is God-sent ability to perform tasks we never imagined were possible.   

In prayer is rejuvenation! 

If the world presses in on you today and people begin to search for you, will they find you in prayer?  As we take steps with Peter, let’s assure we are taking steps with Jesus.  Peter is being trained.  He is clearly willing, but his time allocation is wanting.  He expects Jesus to share his priorities.  He sets expectations for Jesus that conflict with Jesus’ time nurturing His spirit.  Just like when He was a boy, when they went searching for Him, they found Him about His Father’s business.  I do not know about everyone else in your life … but, your Father is looking for you!

Follow Him to the Cross,

Follow Him to the Tomb,

Follow Him to New Life.

Follow Him to Eternity!