Mark 1:36 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Mark 1:36

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Simon got up and the Lord was gone. They are anxious to capitalise on the previous evening’s healings. They had never seen such a public response, and they were deeply impressed by it; they wanted it to continue. Where has he gone? Doesn’t he know we need to cash in on this response?It was not just the disciples searching for the Lord. They report that ‘All men seek thee’, and Luke writes that ‘the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them’ (Luke 4:42). How can you leave when there is such a response? the disciples ask. But Christ works according to his Father’s plan. What matters is not excitement and visible phenomenon, but the Spirit’s enlightenment of the heart. Time is short and there is so much to be done. They must not panic but trust, and yet they must be constantly moving forward.They ‘followed after him’ – the Greek is ‘pursued’, a hunting word. Simon was frantic to find him. They felt they understood the situation better than he did. They would have asked, ‘Have you seen him?’ Putting two and two together, they eventually track him down, and present their case. ‘You must press home your advantage.’ He answers, ‘I have a plan. Yours, from a worldly point of view, is reasonable, but I have a plan to reach everyone, not just Capernaum. ‘And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent’ (Luke 4:43). Christ knew he was sent, and he was willing to be subject to his Father’s plan. Time was short, and there were many to be reached. He could not remain in one place only, however favourable the response.

Application

There is a great difference between the wisdom of disciples, and plan of the Lord. There are people who operate Christian testimony as you would run a business. ‘This is sensible and will attract people; this will grab their attention’, they say. But no, our methods must be derived from Scripture. They must be centred around the word of God. That is what God has promised to bless. God has a purpose. Trust the word, pray, but preach the word. The proclamation of the word is everything. We will do all we can to get the word out. We will trust the Spirit of God, and work in the way he directs.

This eagerness, anxiety, pursuit – reminds us of how we should search for Christ. If you have never sought and found the Lord, then make sure your repentance is part of your search. Press near to him and ask him sincerely. Don’t get up from prayer casually, but make sure you pursue him. We want to live under his guidance; we need to sense his help with us. This requires deep eagerness and concern.

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Mark 1:36 Commentary and Bible Study