Mark 1:35–39 (NKJV) — 35Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”38But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”39And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
We come now to the following morning after a night of ecstatic praise over the multitudes that were healed. Jesus is not sleeping in, but out in a solitary place away from the crowd. He is as usual, in prayer. when His disciples find Him they are a bit flabbergasted, because they wonder why He doesn't realize that everyone is looking for Him. Afterall, everything is going so well, and the crowds on this day will be even larger than the night before. But Jesus didn't come to just heal, but to preach, as He tells His disciples, and the neighboring towns also needed to hear the message. As I think about our work in the town of Templeton, it amazes me at times what we are seeing and reception that we are receiving from the community, but I can't help but think about the towns around us that don't have a gospel witness. Is it not our job to bring the message of hope there as well? Are we all not evangelist in a sense commissioned to make disciples in every place? We work, play, and shop in many other towns, are we preaching there, or are we just enjoying the excitement of what's happening in our own backyard?