Disciples of Jesus - Mark 1:35-45

This is our Sunday teaching by our Senior Pastor, Lesley Thompson. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 27th September, 2026.

Talk Summary Article - Disciples of Jesus - Mark 1:35-45

The day before, Jesus had been at the centre of everything. Crowds had gathered. People were being healed. Lives were being changed. Demand was high and, from the outside, momentum was building.

Then Mark tells us that “very early in the morning, while it was still dark,” Jesus got up, left the house and went somewhere solitary to pray.

It is a striking interruption. There was still plenty to do in Capernaum. Plenty of genuine need. Plenty of people who wanted something from him. Yet Jesus stepped away from the noise before deciding what came next.

And when the disciples eventually found him — “Everyone is looking for you!” — Jesus didn’t simply return to the crowd. Instead, he said it was time to go elsewhere.

His agenda was not being set by urgency, popularity or even by the very real needs in front of him. It was being shaped in the presence of the Father.

That can be difficult for us. We live in a culture where busyness can easily become a measure of value. There is always another email to answer, person to help, problem to solve or opportunity to chase. Even good things can pull us in every direction.

But solitude with God gives the noise somewhere to settle.

Sitting quietly before God can feel uncomfortable at first. Our minds race, unfinished conversations replay, worries surface. But over time, the swirl begins to quieten and we become more aware of the Father’s presence. Sometimes what we need to hear is simply, “I love you.” At other times, God may gently challenge a way of thinking or living that is taking us in the wrong direction. Both come from the heart of a good Father.

And Jesus did not stay in solitude. He returned to people. He preached, healed, touched the man with leprosy and responded with compassion: “I am willing.”

That is the rhythm: away with the Father, then back into the world.

Our big agenda is already clear — love God, love our neighbour, proclaim and demonstrate his kingdom. But the specifics are often discovered in prayer.

So perhaps the question is simple: where is your solitary place, and when will you go there?