Somewhere Else

Mark 1.35-39

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” ³⁹ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus often does things differently than was expected.  Mark brings us to one of those places at the beginning of his gospel. 

We see some expected things.  Jesus praying.  Beginning his day with prayers.  Connecting himself with the Father. 

We see people seeking Jesus.  Simon, with the others telling Jesus that everyone is looking for him.  Just as we heard yesterday that there were Greeks wanting to see Jesus in John 12.

But Jesus does not go to the ones seeking him here.  He decides to go somewhere else.  We would expect that Jesus would go where he was being sought out.  Go to the place where there is a desire.  But he moves on.

We can have expectations of what will be in the times of transition ahead of us.  We can try to figure out the way things are about to play out.  Maybe expecting things to get to the place we were comfortable in our past.  Possibly thinking of what our preferred future looks like.

I often find that when my expectations are not met, but God takes me (us) in a different direction, the result always exceeds my original expectations.  Being at places of beginning, it is normal for us all to have an expectation.  But we should be prepared to hear Jesus call us to look to the sides or the edges of where we are.  Some version of going somewhere else.  The future is amazing.  Even as it lies outside of our control, or because it stays out of our control.

Prayer

Lord, give us hope for the future.  Give us your vision of what that future is meant to be.  And give us patience and strength to go where you lead us.  In the grace of Christ, Amen.

Song – Build Your Kingdom Here