God’s Will and Purpose

Mark 1:29-39

This passage reflects a lovely movement. After a lot of work and busyness, Jesus ‘got up’ – this is the physical movement; He ‘left the house’ – this symbolises separating Himself from all the work He was doing, even if it was for the good of others; He ‘went off to a lonely place’ – this is the setting in which Jesus will speak to God, a place where He and God and the Spirit would commune; then He ‘prayed’ – we know that prayer is the raising of the heart and mind to God. Jesus also presented the whole of His physical self to God without distraction.
We learn from Jesus the value of true availability. Jesus made Himself available to His fellow men, by serving them in curing and casting out devils; to creation, by withdrawing to a lonely place conducive to communion with God; to Himself and to God, in prayer. By being available in this holistic way, Jesus embraced ‘why’ He came, God’s will and purpose in and for His life. Let us do the same.