October 15, 2022 -- Mark 1:14-15, 35-38 -- God's mission strategy

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

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. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”
Mark 1:14-15; 35-38 ESV

Jesus preached the Gospel—that is the Good News of God—and it was enough to stir up the whole of Capernaum. People came out to hear Him preach. They brought their sick and demon possessed. Jesus healed them. He demonstrated the salvation of God—freedom from bondage to sin and slavery to the prince of this age—and then called His people to walk in newness of life. That is to repent—turning from sin and confessing it and intentionally walking toward Jesus. Living for Him. Shedding old patterns of sin and in view of His great mercy and love hating sin more and more.

Look at the strong foundation of Jesus’ work—verse 35—Jesus went out to pray. There in a desolate place He spent time with His Father in heaven. Do not miss this. Jesus was fully submitted to His Father in heaven. He did not fulfill His own agenda, did not do things according to His will, but acted as He was directed by His Father and empowered to carry out the Father’s will by the Spirit (Who was given to Jesus without measure John 3:34).

The disciples were thinking like mission strategists and human planners. Perhaps their wrong-headed thinking ran along the lines of: Jesus, everyone is looking for You, obviously You’re having a great impact here, let’s stay here and meet the people’s needs.

Perhaps you have heard of Martin Lloyd-Jones? He was a medical doctor before he was called into ministry. He was a famous preacher who lived in the UK (1899 - 1981). When people in his congregation were pressuring him to do this or that in order to make the Gospel more palatable and to keep the people interested, his response was simple: “When I was a medical doctor, I didn’t allow the patient to prescribe his own medicine”.

What is powerful in Jesus’ day, remains powerful and true today: “Repent and believe in the Gospel”. Read the Bible. Let the convicting work of the Spirit transform you. Knowing the time is short, tell others about Jesus. The purpose is not to please the crowds, but to please our Father in heaven.

Father in heaven, forgive us the times we want to set the agenda or make our plans and only after they're formed to briefly ask for Your guidance and blessing. The work You give Your people to do is believe in Jesus Whom You sent. From that gracious place of believing, You give every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms, You lead Your people in hope and victory. Father in heaven, fill our hearts with the joy of prayer, the knowledge of Jesus and the blessing of the Spirit Who continually raises us up to new life in Christ. Amen.

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