6. AND PRAYER OF JESUS Mark 1:35-39 (Luke 4:42-44) 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.--Luke (4:42) says: "When it was day." The writers do not contradict each other, since both are proper expressions for a point of time not certainly defined, to wit, the dawn or break of day, when light and darkness are in conflict, and although the day is breaking, it is really still night. One of the notable things in the life of Jesus is the record of his habits of prayer. Divine as he was, there was a constant appeal to and communion with his Father. The vision at his baptism was given while he prayed. (Luke 3:21.) The night before he selected the twelve, he continued the whole night in prayer on a mountain. (Luke 6:12.) The conversation about his Messiahship in Cesarea was preceded by prayer. It was during prayer in a mountain that the transfiguration took place. (Luke 9:28-29.) It was at the close of a season of prayer that he taught his disciples how to pray. (Luke 11:1.) Also we may recall the prayer of John 17, and the agonizing prayer of Gethsemane. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;--On rising, they missed him, and, perhaps in some alarm, went to seek him. 37 and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.--The town was already astir to see and hear the wonderful stranger, and finding him not at Peter's house, were seeking him in all directions. 38 And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns,--There was much ground to cover, and a short time in which to do it. Capernaum had received a great benefit. It must not engross too much of his time. that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.--He came, not from the house of Peter, as some claim, but from his Father, as explained by Luke (Luke 4:43). Christianity is for all the world. As soon as one town receives the gospel, the motto should be, "Let us go elsewhere into the next towns." 39 And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee,--The plan of going into the "next towns" so he could preach to the people there was carried into execution. Not only did he preach in "the next towns" as first proposed but throughout all Galilee. preaching and casting out demons.--He doubtless wrought other healings, but this is put for the whole, as the most striking, up to his time, of his wonderful works. Jesus confirmed and attested his teaching by the miracles he performed wherever he went, the chief among which was casting out demons. This showed his great opposition to the kingdom of Satan. He did not become a "pastor" devoting his time and talent at one place. He made Capernaum his headquarters and from there he carried the gospel of the kingdom into all Galilee. It was his purpose to preach this gospel everywhere, and for this reason he never located and confined his ministry to any particular place, but went to the smallest towns and villages. The place never got too small and the people too poor for Jesus to visit and break unto them the bread of life. He was no salaried preacher, seeking the largest towns and the greatest pay. Herein is an example of wisdom that ought to be followed by preachers now.