Scroll down to see and play Audio.
Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
We’ve had a good week considering some of the “OPPORTUNITIES“ Jesus gives us to learn really important lessons from Him, in how to engage with our very needy world around us, as God seeks to involve us in partnering with Jesus in accomplishing God’s purposes. We’ve been following four fishermen spending a few days with Jesus.
Let’s pick up the story in Mark 1:35 with this question… what is your pattern of “SELAH”? You may know that is a word found often in the Psalms. You’ll usually see it printed in italics and off to the right side of the Psalm near the margin of your Bible. It means “Pause here”. “Reflect, consider what you’ve read”. “Meditate and listen to God as you reflect”. It’s kind of like a scenic overlook on the highway where you pull off the road, and just sit in reflection on the beauty before you. Perhaps it’s what you do at the end of your busy day, as you wind down getting ready for sleep? You’ll find “SELAH” in Psalm 143 between verses 6 & 7. David, in the first six verses, has been pouring out his heart to God. “I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.” There it is… the word “SELAH”.
Then Psalm 143:7 says “Answer me quickly O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me… let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.”
Now Mark 1:35 says “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.” This was ‘SELAH’ for Jesus. He’d had an incredible day the day before, remember? Worship and teaching in the Synagogue, then a confrontation with a demon possessed man and Jesus expelled the demon out of man. Then healing Simon’s mother-in-law in their home, then an evening filled with healing many people who’d heard about the morning power demonstration, and they came with their needs wanting Jesus’ help.
Why do you think Jesus went out early, well before daylight, to pray? Let’s remember Jesus, the Son of God, had come to earth on a very specific, complex mission, given to Him by God the Father. Repeatedly Jesus reminded His disciples and others that all which He did and said was by direction of the Father. (John 7:16) He was accomplishing His mission of Redemption. In John 17:4, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed and John recorded for us these important words: “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. And now Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”
This early morning “Selah” was not the only time Jesus did this. Many times the Gospel writers report Jesus pulled away from the crowds and even His disciples, to meet alone with God (Matt. 14:13, 23; Luke 6:12). It was vital to His being confident that He was in lock step with His Father’s plan and purpose. So look what happens here: “Simon and his companions went looking for Jesus and when they found Him they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for You.” No matter how much need is met, there will always be more people, with more need, right? Word had evidently spread through the night, maybe even to other towns, and as daylight came, so came new crowds, looking for Jesus, the miracle worker.
I imagine the four fishermen thought they were in for another day filled with miracles, and perhaps by now they might have some ideas how to organize the crowd, maybe even do some triage, to improve efficiency for Jesus and all these needy people. They were businessmen after all.
But look at Jesus’ response: “Let us go somewhere else -to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. For that is why I have come.” Oh my! Can you see the guys rubbing their foreheads trying to make sense of this. I can hear it, how about you? “What Jesus? Leave here and go somewhere else…but why? The people are here. They heard what You did, so a whole new group of needy people have come, ready for You to meet their needs. We don’t need to go somewhere else, we can stay right here, and their needs will keep bringing them to You.”
As you read the rest of Mark 1, you’ll see they did leave Capernaum that morning, and many towns and villages were touched by Jesus. We don’t know how Jesus explained his departure to the people, but we know He came back often to this town. In fact look at Mark 2:1 “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum…”, and you’ll see a crowd quickly gathered around him, and once again a miraculous healing took place. But may I invite you to take note of Mark 1:40-42?
It appears, as Jesus and the four fishermen were walking away from Capernaum that morning, on their way to another town, someone came to Jesus who had not been either in the Synagogue the day before, or in the crowd the evening before, or even in the crowd that morning. Lepers stayed far away from people. Their ugly disease was believed to be highly contagious. They wore a cow bell around their neck and clanged it loudly and shouted “unclean, unclean” if anyone came near them. But notice please what happened in the encounter between this man and Jesus, and consider this… if Jesus had not met with the Father that morning, if He had not left Capernaum, they likely would never have met and he would never have experienced his Jesus healing. Do you see the importance of “SELAH”?
My friends, have you learned that many of your family and friends have very good ideas about how you should live your life, spend your time and money? Have you experienced the demanding power of both Applause and Appeal? People affirming you, giving you lots of back slaps…can be very powerful in influencing your choices. And have you also experienced people outright asking you to redirect your life to help them, to be part of their great plans? That is why Jesus was having His “Selah” time with the Father.
Jesus needed to be able to counter the expectations, maybe even the demands of the people, with fresh instructions from His Father. Have you learned to do that my friends? Do you make the time, and take the opportunity, very regularly, for “Selah” moments with God. Have you found it very helpful to take your Bible, your journal, and maybe even some worship music, and find a quiet place to meet with God…often? And have you discovered how helpful it is to know you are walking the path Jesus is leading you on, regardless of the opinions or even demands of people?
May I urge you to consider the value of early morning Selah moments with Jesus… starting tomorrow morning? It entirely changed my life when I began doing this, several years ago. I challenge you to do the same. Let’s pause right now, and see what Jesus wants to say TODAY about what HE knows is coming your way over these next few days.
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.