For those of you who do not already know, I keep another blog but it is focused on systematically going through different books of the Bible. I try to write four times a week (Monday-Thursday). I am currently going through the gospel of Mark. Here is today's entry to give you an idea of what it usually looks like.

Mark 1:21-35

Jesus enters Capernaum, a town on the Sea of Galilee, and heads straight for the synagogue (Jewish place of worship) to teach. Mark records that those listening were amazed because of Jesus' sense of authority when He taught (1:22). Instead of teaching as the scribes (interpreters of Old Testament Scriptures), Jesus taught as One who was experienced and authoritative yet compassionate and personal. The scribes only vocalized that which they had heard from other rabbis, but Jesus was God therefore making Him the ultimate source of knowledge and truth. Of course this situation of amazement was short-lived as a demon possessed man disrupts Jesus' teaching, but He quickly casts out the evil spirit (1:23-26). Those who witnessed this power were astonished and from this point on His "fame" began spreading throughout the region" (1:27-28). Moving from this scenario, Jesus goes to Simon Peter's house where He finds his mother-in-law sick (1:29-30). Jesus quickly intervenes and heals her (1:31). After a long day, people had been hearing about what Jesus had done so they brought all the sick and demon possessed of the region to be healed by Jesus (1:32-33). All of those who came with sickness and infirmities were healed through the power of Jesus (1:34). If you are keeping score, Jesus prevailed over the demons and physical sickness which was plaguing many people. When Jesus' work was done in Capernaum, Mark writes that the next morning, "having risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary [deserted] place; and there He prayed" (1:35). I wish I knew what Jesus was praying about. Some scholars have suggested that He was praying in response to the people's superficial commitment to Him. In other words, people were only seeking Him for what He could do for them physically, not what He could do for them spiritually. I'm not sure we can be certain about His specific prayer, but the fact that He prayed is significant. I'm convinced that Jesus did not have to pray, after all, He was God. But we must also remember that Jesus was also man. In His humanity, Jesus recognized His need for God's strength to accomplish His mission.

I believe prayer is a lost form of worship in modern Christianity. I'm saying this as one who is at times guilty of ignoring the example of Christ who prayed. At the core of prayer is the admission of our need for God's power and strength to accomplish His will, which brings Him all glory and fame which He alone deserves. Yes...prayer is being thankful, confessing sin, asking God for help on behalf of others, but prayer is ultimately an admission of need. Not the need for more money, more physical health, more happiness or more stuff. Prayer is simply our verbalization of need for God Himself. If Jesus needed to pray, so do we. Jesus submitted Himself to do the will of His Father and obviously depended on God's power and strength to enable Him to fulfill God the Father's purpose. Again, if He needed to do that, so do I. Withdraw to a solitary place today and confess your need for God's power and strength to help you accomplish His will knowing that obedience to God will bring the most glory to Him.

Dear God, make me a person of prayer.