Mark 1:35-39 - The Priorities of Jesus

Every one of us has priorities. Whether we write them down or not, our daily choices reveal what we value most. Jesus, too, had priorities, and His life shows us what must shape our own. In Mark 1, after an exhausting day of ministry—preaching, casting out demons, and healing—Jesus did something unexpected. While most of us would have chosen rest, He rose early, withdrew to a desolate place, and prayed. In doing so, Jesus modeled a crucial priority: communion with the Father. He didn’t merely fit prayer into His schedule—He built His life around it. If the Son of God prioritized prayer, how much more should we?

But prayer wasn’t His only priority. As His fame grew and crowds sought Him out, the disciples urged Jesus to stay in Capernaum and continue healing. Yet, Jesus made it clear—His mission was to preach the gospel. Though miracles confirmed His authority, they weren’t His primary purpose. He didn’t come merely to heal bodies but to save souls. In a world that often equates success with popularity and crowds, Jesus stayed focused on His true calling: proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. His example reminds us that, as followers of Christ, our lives must be marked by both gospel devotion and gospel declaration.

Why was preaching the gospel so central to Jesus? Because He is the gospel. His mission didn’t end in Galilee but at Golgotha. The solitary prayer in Mark 1 foreshadowed another—at Gethsemane—where Jesus again withdrew to commune with the Father. But this time, the Father’s will was not to remove the cup of suffering. Hours later, Jesus would face a crowd—not one seeking healing, but one crying for His death. On the cross, He drank the full cup of God’s wrath, standing in the place of sinners. Yet, His mission didn’t end in death—on the third day, He rose, ascended to heaven, and now intercedes for His people.

So, what does this mean for us? First, the gospel transforms. Jesus offers eternal life and true healing to all who trust in Him. Second, devotion fuels service. Jesus’ time in prayer prepared Him for the mission ahead, and the same is true for us. May we follow His example, prioritizing communion with the Father and proclaiming the gospel with our lives. Let’s not settle for temporary distractions—let’s build our lives around what truly matters.

The prayers of Jesus in the Gospels

The Prayers of Jesus in the Gospels

Main Point – What’s important to Jesus, must be a priority to us.

Outline – Two priorities of Jesus

1. Jesus prioritized communion with the Father (v35)
2. Jesus prioritized preaching the Gospel (vv-36-39)