After the events at the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus went back to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew, together with James and John. These four were the first disciples. It had been a busy day and no doubt Jesus was looking forward to a meal and some rest. Back at the house Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. Jesus healed her and then, after a night's sleep, Jesus was up and out of the house early in the morning to pray to His Father. There is some helpful teaching in this narrative –

1. The Power of Christ in Healing – verses 29-34.

There are two things to notice in these six verses:

• Peter's mother-in-law is ill. She was in bed with a fever, whilst Luke, the doctor (Colossians 4:14) tells us in his gospel that she "was suffering from a high fever" (Luke 4:38,39). The Great Physician had come to the house, and they told Jesus about her. Here's the great privilege of bringing everything to the Lord in prayer. It can be so natural. Compare this with John 2:36; 11:36. In response to their words Jesus went to her, took her hand and helped her up (verse 31). He healed her and restored her completely. He took the fever away and gave back her strength. She didn't say, "The fever's gone but I'm exhausted!" No, we're told that she got up and began to wait on them and ministered to them.
• The whole town turned up at the door – verses 32,33. No doubt many had heard of the events in the synagogue that day, and perhaps word had spread like wildfire about the amazing and immediate healing and restoration of Peter's mother-in-law. They came that evening seeking Jesus and bringing to Him the sick and demon-possessed. After a tiring day, on the doorstep of Peter's house Jesus healed many and drove out many demons.

2. The Prayer of Christ in the Morning – verse 35.

Mark tells us that Jesus got up early the next morning and went out to a solitary place, "where he prayed". There are three things to notice here:-

• First of all, who prayed. It was our Lord Jesus Christ. After a busy day, and before another one, Jesus found a lonely, deserted place, and there He poured out His heart in prayer to His Father. The reality of His prayer life is powerfully expressed in Hebrews 5:7. There are a number of references to Christ's prayer life in the New Testament, and they are in four groups:
  1. His prayers at important times. For example, He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21); when choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12); at the mount of His transfiguration (Luke 9:28); before He asked His disciples who they thought He was (Luke 9:18); in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32,35,36,39); and on the Cross of Calvary (Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46).
  2. His prayers during His ministry. He prayed before giving the disciples the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:1); after He had fed the 5000 (Mark 6:41). See also Matthew 11:25-30, Luke 5:16 and John 12:27.
  3. His prayers at the time of His miracles. He prayed before He fed the 5000 (Matthew 14:19), and at the grave of Lazarus (John 11:41,42).
  4. His prayers for others. He prayed for the disciples (John 17:6-19); for all believers (John 17:20-26); for those who nailed Him to the Cross (Luke 23:34); and for Peter (Luke 22:31,32). Now ascended and in Heaven, He intercedes for all believers (1 Timothy 2:5).
  There's a question we often ponder, "Why did Jesus need to pray?" After all He is God, and He and the Father are one. Matthew Henry wrote, "Though as God He was prayed to, as MAN He prayed." Having become a man He realised His need of communion and fellowship with the Father. The demands of His ministry and His mission meant that He needed time alone with God in prayer. If Jesus needed these times of prayer, how much more do we? He has left us a powerful example.
• Secondly, when He prayed. Very early in the morning He rose and went out and prayed. While it was quiet and before the busyness of the day He got alone with His Father. He began the day in prayer. It's a great example to follow – to commit the day before us to Him.
• Thirdly, where He prayed. He went out to "a solitary place". Compare with Matthew 6:5,6. Samuel Chadwick wrote, "The soul needs its silent spaces" – in them we wait, we meditate, we ponder, we consider. But in them we learn to pray. One of the greatest polluting factors in our world is noise! We need to be silent, to be alone with Him, and to let Him speak. The words of Psalm 46:10 are so relevant and necessary: "Be still, and know that I am God." Only we and the Lord know if these times exist; if they are precious and times of sweet communion; or if they are barren. We must be honest because prayer isn't easy; we have to work at it continually, but it is a tremendous privilege and honour. We can speak to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and He is listening. Campbell Morgan said that 'praying' is more than asking – "It's going forward in desire to God, not for God's gifts only, but for God."

3. The Preaching of Christ in the Villages – verses 36-39.

Realising that the Master was up early and had gone, Simon Peter and the others went out to look for Him, and when they found Him said, "Everyone is looking for you." The word had spread quickly, the whole town was at the door last evening, and no doubt many more with diseases would come today! Jesus could spend much time in the town because there were many needs, and He will return (see chapter 2:1). But the focus of our Lord was to preach the good news of the kingdom. So they went out to the villages, preaching in the rural areas. Christ always kept before Him His mission to proclaim the love of God, to plead with men and women to repent and believe the good news, and to seek and to save the lost. There are two important priorities in these verses – praying and preaching. We need to follow Christ's example, and not be side-tracked into less important tasks. Look up Acts 6:3,4.