The book of James says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (5:16b ESV). Other translations say, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NIV) or “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV).

Great power comes from prayer!  Hopefully, you’ve noticed that just before Jesus does the extraordinary, He has been alone with His Father, God to commune with Him in prayer, listening for what God says to do next.  Mark tells of yet another time when this occurs.  Let’s talk about it…

As a believer, it becomes a part of our DNA as a new creation in Christ to want to spread His love by serving and helping others.  This desire is good until we serve and help others to serve the need we have to feel important, to look good to others, and to stay busy because somehow the busier we are the better we think we are.  This is a trap that we all fall into from time to time.  That’s why the Psalmist reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).  We learn from Jesus, God’s Son, to BE with God, let go or our will in return to grasp God’s will and then DO what HE says. 

Doing without being is just a lot of “noise” while the pure motivations of love, mercy, and grace slowly slip away.

To BEcome more like Jesus is to pray to God, asking what He wants, before doing anything.  As we read, we observe the habits and behaviors of Jesus throughout the Gospels.  We learn from the One we desire to imitate.  Jesus’ miraculous acts and His display of wisdom in teaching are demonstrated after being with the Father in prayer!

Prayer begins and ends His day, while often “getting away alone in a quiet place.”  We learn that prayer equals power.  For Jesus, prayer comes before agendas, before beginning the tasks of the day, before offering advice, before healing, before choosing disciples, before the crowds find him and clamor around Him for attention. 

So, if Jesus knew to step away, get quiet, be still and commune with His Father before doing another healing, performing another miracle, along with another round of teaching—shouldn’t we do the same?  If we are too busy to pray—we are too busy! 

Jesus stayed in touch with the One who sent Him to save us.  We, too must stay in touch with the One who is the Way, Truth and Life!  We are not of this world.  We are children of God with Kingdom of God thinking that come from staying in touch with our Father, In Jesus Name!   

Mark 1, The Message

The Leper

^35-37 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.”

^38-39 Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.” He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

⁴⁰ A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”

^41-45 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Prayer keeps us focused!  After Jesus gets in touch with His Father, He clarifies the mission God gave him to the other disciples.  “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.”  Healing is not the main work of Jesus; to seek and to save the lost who need God is central in His focus.  As the Son of Man, Jesus receives power to do what God has sent Him to do by staying in touch.  This same power also heals those who come to Him.

“If you want to…” says the leper are words of reverence and respect given to Jesus.  The leper is not demanding or assuming, he is asking Jesus what He thinks is best for him, believing that He can bring healing.  Jesus’ touch heals the man because he wants to do it and is probably impressed by the man’s faith as he humbly requests for His will in the matter.

Now, it will be harder for Jesus to move about freely because the word of His healing power has spread all over that part of the world.  But does He stop praying as His popularity grows?  Does He feel He no longer needs God’s help or direction? Absolutely not.  Jesus is in continual communication with God.  “I only do what my Father tells me to do.”  “I say what my Father tells me to say.” 

Can we say the same?  I’m not going to answer this one out loud.  It’s personal.

Jesus’ last prayer was from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  Then Jesus died for our sins.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—except Jesus.  Jesus was the only One who could save us.  Jesus did what God said.  The mission completed, finished, the debt paid in full. 

Jesus went to hell and back again for you and for me and the rest of the world. 

Lord,

My desire is to stay in touch with You throughout the day and into the night.  I lean into you, tapping into Your Power and Strength, Wisdom, and Direction, asking for Your will to be done.  I want to live expectantly to see you at work in and through me. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen