Mark 1:35-39·~1 min

Jesus Prays and Preaches

Jesus rises in the dark and goes to a solitary place to pray. Simon and the others search for him, then report that everyone is looking for him.

E³⁵arly in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray. ³⁶Simon and his companions went to look for Him, ³⁷and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”

Jesus refuses to settle into the gathered crowd and sets out for neighboring towns to preach there as well. He continues through Galilee preaching in synagogues and driving out demons.

³⁸But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” ³⁹So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Section summaryBefore dawn, Jesus withdraws to pray, then refuses to stay where the crowd has gathered. He presses on to neighboring towns to preach, and the chapter closes with him moving through Galilee in both proclamation and expulsion of demons.

Role in the chapterThe section joins prayer and preaching, showing Jesus’ mission set by solitude rather than pressure from the crowd around him in Galilee early that morning.