On the first Sabbath of Jesus’ earthly ministry recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus ministers all day and late into the night. He performs an exorcism in the Synagogue (
Mark 1:21-28), a healing in a house (
Mark 1:29-31) and numerous healings and exorcisms in the streets of Capernaum (
Mark 1:32-34). He has to be physically tired, as although He is the Son of God, He is ministering on earth in a human body as the Son of Man. As the Son of Man, Jesus gives us an example to follow. As the Son of God He reveals His Kingdom to us in words and actions as He heads towards the cross to take God’s judgment of our sins upon Himself. He has to be physically tired after such an eventful day so He gets off by Himself and prays.
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. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." 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." And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
(Mark 1:35-39 ESV)
Know that you are loved,
gaj