Mark 1 ~ Simon and those who were with him searched for Him

Mark 1

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”


4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 

7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.



14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.




21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 

28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.


29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.





32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.





35 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. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 

38 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.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.





40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 

41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 

43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 



45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.



Simon and those who were with him searched for Jesus.

Jesus does pray a lot and Scriptures record Elijah went out, like Jesus does to the lonely, desolate places.

Elijah in 1 Kings 19 is very expressive.

11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?


And we consider Jesus Christ. A strong Wind - Jesus calms. The storm upon the Sea of Galilee was this level - wind sheer and almost an earthquake from the way God created the Golan Heights. Jesus calms our storms.

Jesus was dead when Golgotha had rocks split in an earthquake geologists have found dating correctly to the age of Jesus alive. Jesus was not in the earthquake - His Father was.

Fire - the earth was created in water and fire will be the end of the earth. Jesus asked when He returned would He find faith.




Jesus is in the quiet places to pray - to find the voice of His Father.




I once encountered ice on a bridge and skidded to the rail. Scaring the driver behind me to death. All I had time for was yell, "Jesus Lord Christ!" Not even time for please. Just Extreme Urgency. My car abruptly stopped, I thought I had hit something. Only God can stop a car like that. The driver behind got out and yelled he had to look down because he thought I'd died going over the bridge.


Finding Jesus, as it was in the beginning, is now and always:

In Creation, Jesus says:

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Love.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!



And how will we identify God Himself the Lord our God Father Almighty?

Love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.


And what is Strength?

Finding His Mercies renew each day. Anticipating the finding. Joy of the Lord is my strength.

What are the Fruits of the Spirit of God?
Nehemiah 8. A continual feast finding strength in God. God is Love. God is Joy. How will He bring this together for good for those who Love the Lord and Work for His Purpose?

Matthew 6:33
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.



Father God,

I am praying a huge frame work, steel frame work building around those I love. This is tall and open, able to protect. The foundation is fortified to carry this huge steel frame work. The strength and the foundation are God. The openness is God. This fortification belongs to the Lord God Almighty. This is the place of honor where Love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will endure the storms of life.

And I place each person there saying as I have heard them say, "I love Jesus."

Our Father who is in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name, Jesus the Lord.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as in Heaven.

Give us this day. Our daily Living Bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive others.

Lead us not into Temptation, deliver us from evil.
For as John witnessed, Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are Your's.
Amen, Jesus is Lord and we ask in His Name.


May the Lord Bless us and Keep us
and make His Face Shine upon us and be gracious to us. Thank You.
Lift Your Face to Smile upon us.
And give us Peace,
Covering us in the Name of Jesus Christ God. Amen.



When Father God wanted to create Life, He spoke.
Light. And Jesus Christ Light of the world, light of mankind is our God.
Over the waters, is the Voice of God, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus laughed with delight to see the beauty God creates.
They delighted in mankind.

When the Children of Israel could go no further,
Father God created a path for them through the Red Sea.
Only with faith could they walk with waters heaped up on both sides.
They traveled with dry feet.
We give thanks for Your servants Moses and Joshua.
And as this Prayer encompasses Living Water, we pray for deserts to end
and faith increase.

Mankind cried out again against tyranny and oppression of their own making.
Jesus Christ Light of the World, Son of God was born of a Virgin
and obediently the Lamb of God, healing and loving, who knew no sin,
emerged from the Holy Water of Baptism
and God Spoke,
"This is My Beloved Son, Listen to Him."

And we want to be able to do as Jesus did.
To see Your Willingness each day and go there with faith.

Jesus, being God, knew to go to the Pool of Bethsaida
where He healed and ungrateful man from 38 years of illness.

Jesus did not quit. Jesus went on to the Town of Bethsaida,
where He healed with Living Water; sending the healed blind man
to the Pool of Siloam - Sent.

Because of Jesus' willingness, we know the man's name - Bartimaeus.

Jesus went further, going another mile for God. A man was healed
from brain injury blindness with Living Water. Jesus found he needed
more healing and Jesus took hold of him again. Healed.

Jesus used Living Water and healed the deaf man. Putting fingers in his
ears, Jesus cried "Be Opened." The man was healed.

Jesus walked on water, probably remembering Genesis, the Joy and Delight of creation and mankind.
Peter would walk with Jesus. He was not able. Jesus immediately made the path of Peter sturdy to get Peter to the ship.

There was a horrible storm of great magnitude. Jesus spoke to the wind and waves. They were calm. We want to be covered in Jesus. Always. Amen.

  ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †