Outline

I. Jesus prays (35-37)
II. Jesus preaches (38-39)
III. Jesus heals (40-45)

I. Jesus prays (35-37)

Discussion Questions

• What do you observe about Jesus’ spiritual life?
• Why did He wake up early in the morning?
• Why did He go to a desolate place?
• What can we learn from Jesus’ example?
• Is it better to have personal devotions in the morning or another time of the day? Why?
• What are some practical ways you can prioritize spending quality time with the Lord each day?
• How difficult was it for Jesus to find quiet time alone?

Cross-References

Psalms 119:148 - My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

Psalms 5:3 - O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Luke 5:16 - But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Verse by Verse Commentary

In this passage we can several lessons about developing a healthy prayer life.

1. Rising very early in the morning while it was still dark – Jesus placed a priority on prayer. He led a busy life. His days were filled with teaching the crowds, healing, and walking long distances. Jesus surely would have frequently been exhausted. Sleeping in would have been attractive.

Yet Jesus got up before dawn. The disciples did not know where He had gone. Presumably, they were still asleep when Jesus got up and left.

Jesus was self-disciplined. The flesh would have been pleading with him, “stay in bed a little longer.” But Jesus subjugated the flesh to the spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 - But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Being disciplined in getting up early in the morning was one of many ways Jesus walked by the Spirit.

It is not necessarily a sin to sleep late. Getting enough rest is important. Our bodies can break down physically without enough sleep. Lack of sleep can also contribute to grumpiness.

However, there is a fine line between getting enough rest and lacking self-discipline. We are not to live in a way that gratifies the flesh. If you are lazy and undisciplined in one area, it breeds the same attitude in other areas. But when we train our bodies to obey our higher will, even in simple things such as sleep patterns, it becomes easier to say “no” to the flesh and be victorious over temptation wherever it strikes.

In addition, getting up early ensured that Jesus had adequate time with the Father before the busy day. We see in this passage that people were always seeking Jesus out. It would have been harder for Jesus to get quality prayer time during regular hours as he would be frequently interrupted.

One important principle of time management is to do the most important things first. There is often a tension between doing things that are urgent and doing things that are important.

This is called the Eisenhower decision matrix. Dwight Eisenhower said, “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”

The disciples and others would have had a lot of urgent things for Jesus to address, but they were not as important as prayer time.

We also need to differentiate between what is important and urgent. Calling your mother and having a conversation is important, but it is likely not urgent. Answering a text message or unexpected phone call may be urgent but are not always important.

Spending time with your family, having a conversation with your wife, and reading the Bible likely do not feel urgent, but they are clearly important. Because important things lack urgency, we often procrastinate and fill our time with less meaningful activities.

Application – Spend some time evaluating your prayer life. Are you prioritizing it as important? Do you need to wake up earlier? If you do need to get up earlier, what practical steps can you take to achieve this goal?

Resources - Check out more about what the Bible says about time management.

2. He went to a desolate place – Many biblical characters spent time in the wilderness. Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist and others lived in the wilderness for long periods of time. These times helped them develop a thirst for God. There were no people around, which allowed them to develop their personal relationship with God.

One of the best things about the wilderness is that it is quiet, which can be helpful as a place to meditate on God without distraction.

Cities are loud, filled with hustle and bustle. There is noise everywhere. And there is stuff to do. Errands. People to see. There are lots of people and lots of distractions.

Modern-day cities are even louder than ancient ones. In one video, while I was recording a Bible study, I was interrupted at least three times by a security guard on a motorcycle who came around with a loudspeaker reminding us to take our Covid test.

There are horns, music, and shouts. Nowadays, we have ever more distractions, especially with smart phones in hand.

There is a reason that Jesus often went out to the wilderness to pray.

Luke 5 16 – But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Jesus set a habit of doing this. It was a place where He could escape distraction and have a real quiet time of fellowship with His father.

John and Charles Wesley’s mother bore nineteen children. One can imagine it was difficult for her to find time alone to prayer. Sometimes she would withdraw into a corner and pull her apron over her head. That was a sign to the kids that they should not distract her because she was praying. She is a good example that on occasion, finding a quiet place can require some creativity.

Application – It is hard for us in the city with full schedules and annoying smart phones to get that time free of distraction. We need to prioritize it and make a way. Jesus found a way. He snuck away from the crowds. You need to find a way to have that quality, quiet time with the Lord as well. We need that each day. And we also should have occasional times of intentional retreat where we can spend more extended time with Him.

Perhaps today, your application is simple. Give your spouse or a roommate your phone and tell them, “UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO GIVE THIS BACK TO ME FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES,” and then have your quiet time with the Lord free of distraction.

3. There he prayed – Prayer was a priority for Jesus. He did not do it to put on a show like the Pharisees did. It was deeply personal for Him. He practiced what He preached.

Matthew 6:6 - But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Much of Jesus’ prayer life went on behind the scenes.

EM Bounds wrote some of the best material on the importance of prayer. Here is one thing he said.

“The praying which makes a prayerful ministry is not a little praying put in as we put flavor to give it a pleasant smack, but the praying must be in the body, and form the blood and bones. Prayer is no petty duty, put into a corner; no piecemeal performance made out of the fragments of time which have been snatched from business and other engagements of life; but it means that the best of our time, the heart of our time and strength must be given.”

Jesus demonstrated this truth clearly in how He lived His life. We would do well to remember that “apart from Him, we can do nothing.” If Jesus, the Son of God, found it important to prayer, how much more should we?

4. The disciples found Jesus – It was almost like a game of hide-and-seek. Because Jesus needed that time alone, He did not announce to them where He was going. Nonetheless, they were persistent and found Him!

II. Jesus preaches (38-39)

Discussion Questions

• How did Jesus respond when He was interrupted from His quiet time?
• How do you react when you are interrupted?
• What was Jesus’ current mission?
• What message did Jesus preach?

Cross-References

Mark 1:14-15 - Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2 Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. That I may preach there also, for that is why I came out – Aside from the cross, Jesus’ primary mission was to preach. With His peaching, Christ urged people to repent of their sins and turn to God for salvation.

One of the key messages He preached was that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Jesus came to invite them into the kingdom of God. Only by adopting an attitude of humility and repenting of their sins would they be able to place their faith in Christ and enter into His kingdom.

One of the key problems that Jesus preached against was their self-righteousness. Many were prideful of the fact that they were Jews. They thought they were good and righteous people and already had a relationship with God. Before they could receive help, they had to realize that they needed it.

Application – Jesus was called to preach, and we are as well. We are His representatives and are to take His gospel to a lost world (Matthew 28:18-20). A key element of that gospel is the need to repent. Are you preaching the gospel? If so, what gospel are you preaching?

III. Jesus heals (40-45)

Discussion Questions

• What do you observe in the leper’s attitude?
• Why did Jesus tell the healed man not to tell others what had happened?
• What does this show us about Jesus’ character?
• How does Jesus’ attitude contrast with what most people would do if they healed someone?
• Why would this man disobey Jesus right after being healed by Him?
• What were the results of this man’s disobedience?
• What motivated people to come to Jesus?

Cross-References

Psalms 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Luke 4:18-19 - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Isaiah 42:2-3 - He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1. The leper’s attitude – Lepers were outcasts of society. They were required to yell “unclean” wherever they went. No one could touch them. It was a sad and desperate existence. You can sense the desperation in this man.

He kneeled before Jesus and pleaded with Him for healing. Desperation and sickness often drive people to God. These are reminders that He uses the cursed and fallen things of this world to accomplish His good purposes.

Application – Where do you go when you are desperate? We may turn to friends, comforts, or worldly experts. Perhaps God is using those things to remind us that we need Him. Many people who say “I believe in myself” only learn through sickness how truly dependent on God’s mercy they are. Recognize that you are totally dependent on the Lord. That acknowledgment can help you keep the right perspective and be humble.

2. Jesus touched him – Lepers were unclean according to the law. A normal person would become unclean merely by touching them.

Jesus did not hesitate.

Reflect – Did Jesus become unclean when He touched the leper?

Jesus’ purity overcame the impurity of the leper. Purity and healing flowed through Him to the leper. The leper did not cause Jesus to become unclean. Rather, Jesus caused the leper to become clean.

This is a powerful reminder that Jesus overcame the world and not the other way around. Sin and death could not triumph over Jesus. As the light banishes the darkness, Jesus cleanses the filth of the world.

When we were children, my siblings and I joked that my dad had the power to dip his hand into a bowl of soup and not get it dirty. He had this reputation because he never spilled anything while eating.

Jesus came into this world of darkness and He overcame it. Satan wanted to ensnare Jesus and pull Him down to our level. Instead, Jesus redeemed the world and lifted us up by clothing us with His righteousness.

John 1:5 - The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

2. Jesus healed him in an instant – Jesus’ miracles were not done in a flashy way to garner attention. He was straightforward.

3. Jesus told him not to tell anyone –

This surprising statement reveals an important character quality of Jesus. He was meek.

Take note of a very familiar situation in Matthew 12.

Matthew 12:15-17 - Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.”

Matthew quotes a passage from one of the four servant songs in Isaiah. This passage in Isaiah prophecies about the qualities of the Lord’s chosen servant. One of these is that “He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.”

This does not mean that the Messiah would never raise His voice. Rather, it refers to His calm countenance and demeanor. He would not seek to gain fame or following through bluster or brashness. Jesus was not out to generate soundbites.

His attitude is in stark contrast to many politicians and media personalities today. Many seek to generate attention, clicks, likes, and popularity through clickbait titles and phrases.

My boys and I once watched a political debate. The participants made very few rational arguments. Instead, they constantly interrupted each other. It degenerated at times into a shouting match.

Jesus was not like this. Many times, rather than drawing attention to himself, he told those whom he healed to keep it quiet. Can you imagine people doing that today?

Jesus was a servant. He was not out to publicize Himself.

John 8:50 - Yet I do not seek my own glory.

He was a true servant leader in every sense. A servant is meek. However, we should not confuse His meekness with weakness.

I have seen nature documentaries where lions take down huge prey. But those same lions are gentle with their cubs, carefully carrying them from place to place.

Jesus was strong when He needed to be. He did not back down from or compromise with the Pharisees. He taught with authority. Jesus used His strength to protect others, not Himself.

Application – Jesus deserved the glory and did not seek it. We do not deserve glory and often seek it. One simple application is to regularly come before the Lord and ask Him to help you be humble.

• Before you preach
• Before you perform
• Before you compete in athletics

Another reason Jesus told this leper not to spread the news was that He knew it would create more attention on His ministry. Many others would come and it would be difficult for Jesus to preach as there would be lines of people asking for healing.

4. Jesus commanded him to follow the Old Testament law about leprosy –

Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17)

Jesus told this man to follow every letter of the law.

5. The cleansed leper was ungrateful and disobedient –

You would think that this man would show gratitude toward his healer by obeying this wish. Sadly, that was not the case. He went out and immediately disobeyed by freely telling all about the miracle.

Reflect - Was the man being malicious? Was he trying to sabotage Jesus’ ministry?

Most likely, this man was not doing it out of malice toward Jesus. Probably he was simply excited and wanted to share the good news. That is certainly understandable. Yet it does not exonerate him. To some extent, his motive is irrelevant. Jesus did him a huge favor. Then Jesus gave a simple instruction.

But the man disobeyed. He was ungrateful, disobedient, and lacked self-control. His disobedience hindered Jesus’ further ministry in that region.

Many turn to God when they are desperate as this leper did. Some even make promises like, “if God heals me, I will believe in Him,” or “if God heals me, I will give my life as a missionary.”

But after being healed, those promises are often quickly forgotten and the people go their own way. Physical healing does not guarantee a heart change, which is likely the reason the Savior focused on preaching a message of forgiveness and spiritual healing.

Application - Do not excuse disobedience to God’s commands by thinking that you have a good motivation for doing so. God desires obedience. You cannot improve on His commands. Many pastors today think that they are helping God by making the gospel more palatable to the world. God doesn’t need that kind of help. What He wants is for us to be faithful and simply do what He says.