Tuesday, February 10
When they found Jesus, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”
—Mark 1:37–38
This scene in Mark’s gospel comes immediately after
Jesus has finished a very long day of teaching and healing one Sabbath in
Capernaum, a small village on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus has become very popular
with the common people, and they follow him in increasing numbers, clamoring to
be around him. His reputation as a preacher, teacher and healer is growing, and
he seems destined for great things. At least that is how the disciples see
it.
Early one morning, while it is still dark, Jesus gets up and
goes to a deserted place to pray. In the midst of his prayers, some of the
disciples come running to him, interrupt his quiet time, and say excitedly,
“Everyone’s looking for you!” To them, that is great news, but to Jesus it’s all
he needs to move on. He came to spread the gospel, not to become a
star.
The gospel, the good news, is that God created us and
formed us and loves us for who we are, not for what we do. We cannot be who God
created us to be when we are caught up in success and applause, even when it is
for good things. It is a hard lesson, but we have the best teacher in the world
as our model and guide.
Dear God, it is so hard to let go of the idea that we must be successful. But help us, through the example of Jesus, to do just that. Amen.
