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. Mark 1:35

In this descriptive sentence, Christ’s example of how to live with a quiet heart in a noisy world is captured.  In Part 1 of our series, we introduced the relevance and importance of this verse.  In this entry, the background and context will be explored, in order to form a foundation from which to build on in future entries.   

To understand the relevance of the teaching principles in this passage, we need to survey where it is placed in the book of Mark….where we find it in the story of Jesus’ life.  

A quick glance at the context reveals that this verse is sandwiched between two desciptions of ministry heavy, and likely exhausting, days.  Mark’s gospel at this point has Jesus beginning his ministry work, perhaps establishing long term patterns for his daily schedule.  From what we read, it begins with teaching in the synagogue in the morning (Mk 1:21-22), followed by the casting out of a demon (vs. 25), continuing with a miraculous healing (vs. 31), and into the evening He was healing many sick people (vs. 32).  A heavy day to be sure!  For me, an exhausting day is merely preaching a message in the morning and following it up with teaching in the evening.  

Immediately after our passage, Mark makes it clear that there was much more work for Jesus to do the following day.  Verse 36 says, “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’”

Our focus verse comes to us in the midst of these 2 intensely demanding days in Jesus’ ministry.  It is this context that allows us to ask some incredibly relevant questions of Jesus.  

How does the Christ follower handle the busyness of life?  How do we avoid the pitfalls of other peoples expectations in our calling?  How do we prioritize what is most important in our work life?

Mark’s ordering of the rhythm of Christ’s ministry offers us priceless principles to base our lives on, and as the passage continues we see why…

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Mark 1:37

After a long day and evening of intense ministry Jesus awakes the next morning with the vision, insight, and discipline to remian focused on His purpose.  Not even the tempting call of need and popularity could disuade Him.  How was Jesus able to remain focused and purposeful in the midst of the hectic pace of daily ministry?  Answering that question is the task of this series, ‘Quiet the Noisy Heart’, and it begs to be continued.  

Lord of all, creator of the rythm of life, teach us to live as You intend.  Teach us to enter into Your rythm, Your clarity of purpose, Your presence.  As the busyness of life tempts us away from You, cling to us and call us again and again.  For Jesus’ sake, Amen.  

My spiritual director showed me a picture like this and those were the questions that came to mind.  
When my eyes hit the photo, my mind hit the verse that talks about how God feeds the birds… 

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”  (Lk 12:24)

I was challenged to think about the fact that I was the bird in the hands of the God who has proved Himself faithful over and over again.  Why do I not seek to have my needs met in Him?  Why do I continually fly around desparately looking for food that never quite hits the spot, when the food that has been specifically designed for my pallet is sitting there in an open hand?

Do I not trust that God knows my needs?
Do I not believe that God can meet my needs?
Do I not believe that God loves me and will give me what I need? 

Those are the rhetorical questions that rang in my head as I saw this picture and experienced the subtext of my current situation playing in the background.  Of course I did belive those things about God, He had proved it to me…so what went wrong?  

Continental drift is all I can think of…that imperceptibly slow coasting away from the source of life.