“Let’s go to the next towns so I can preach there too – for this is why I have come." (Mark 1:38)
What does this reveal about Jesus' mission?
It is important to understand the circumstances surrounding Jesus' statement:
And for those who preach that Jesus wants to heal everyone of their ailments, why did Jesus not heal everyone of every affliction? It says that Jesus healed "many." But why not everyone? If Jesus can heal by touching anyone, why didn't he just touch everyone one by one in the crowd and heal all the townspeople who were looking for him?
In other words, why did Jesus want to leave so suddenly without healing everyone?
Because Jesus is clearly stating that healing bodies was not his mission.
We can also understand from the above verses that Jesus wasn't interested in enjoying the adulation of others. He was most interested in his relationship with the Supreme Being. This is why he 'went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.'
Who was Jesus praying to? He was praying to the Supreme Being. This is confirmed elsewhere as Jesus prays to the Supreme Being openly - in front of his disciples. Consider this prayer:
When a person approaches another and asks them what they can do for them, we are seeing a relationship between those two people. We are observing an exchange - where one person wants to please the other person.
Now if the person who comes to ask what they can do for the other is getting paid by the other person, then this would be an employer-employee relationship.
But if a person is not seeking any kind of payment or reward, but just wants to please the other person, what kind of relationship are we talking about then?
Yes, Jesus is involved in a loving relationship with the Supreme Being. This is the secret that lies within the life and teachings of Jesus that few see. This is the element that is missed if the teacher is more interested in gaining followers and increasing their political influence. This can also be missed if the focus is upon becoming saved.
But if we read Jesus' words and actions carefully and sincerely, we can understand that Jesus is involved in a loving relationship, and his goal is not his own salvation or in gaining followers. His goal is to please the Supreme Being. This is confirmed by this statement by Jesus:
Jesus clearly stated elsewhere that his teachings came from the Supreme Being:
When evening came, they brought to him everyone that were sick, along with those who were possessed with demons. Then the whole city was gathered together outside the door. He healed many who were sick from various diseases and cast out many demons. He would not allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. In the morning he rose early before sunrise and went to a solitary place to pray. Simon and others who were with him followed after him. Upon finding him, they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Mark 1:32-37)The people of the town were clamoring to have Jesus heal their bodies. If Jesus' purpose was to heal all their bodily ailments then he would have stayed, right? Wouldn't he have healed everyone in the town before he left?
And for those who preach that Jesus wants to heal everyone of their ailments, why did Jesus not heal everyone of every affliction? It says that Jesus healed "many." But why not everyone? If Jesus can heal by touching anyone, why didn't he just touch everyone one by one in the crowd and heal all the townspeople who were looking for him?
In other words, why did Jesus want to leave so suddenly without healing everyone?
Because Jesus is clearly stating that healing bodies was not his mission.
Did Jesus want to be famous?
We can also understand from the above verses that Jesus wasn't interested in enjoying the adulation of others. He was most interested in his relationship with the Supreme Being. This is why he 'went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.'
Who was Jesus praying to? He was praying to the Supreme Being. This is confirmed elsewhere as Jesus prays to the Supreme Being openly - in front of his disciples. Consider this prayer:
“LORD, if it pleases You, take this cup away from me, but let Your will – not mine – be done.” (Luke 22:42)Thus we can see from the nature of Jesus' prayers that he is requesting that he do what his Father - the Supreme Being - wants him to do. Jesus wants to do what pleases God:
“My food is to do what pleases Him who sent me and to complete His work." (John 4:34)What is this? This is a relationship.
When a person approaches another and asks them what they can do for them, we are seeing a relationship between those two people. We are observing an exchange - where one person wants to please the other person.
What kind of relationship is this?
Now if the person who comes to ask what they can do for the other is getting paid by the other person, then this would be an employer-employee relationship.
But if a person is not seeking any kind of payment or reward, but just wants to please the other person, what kind of relationship are we talking about then?
Yes, Jesus is involved in a loving relationship with the Supreme Being. This is the secret that lies within the life and teachings of Jesus that few see. This is the element that is missed if the teacher is more interested in gaining followers and increasing their political influence. This can also be missed if the focus is upon becoming saved.
But if we read Jesus' words and actions carefully and sincerely, we can understand that Jesus is involved in a loving relationship, and his goal is not his own salvation or in gaining followers. His goal is to please the Supreme Being. This is confirmed by this statement by Jesus:
"By myself I can do nothing; As I hear, I make choices, and my choices are just because I do not seek to please myself but to please Him who sent me."" (John 5:30)This statement about pleasing God clearly states that Jesus' activities are geared towards pleasing the Supreme Being. This is because Jesus loves the Supreme Being. A person who loves another naturally wants to please them with service.
Jesus clearly stated elsewhere that his teachings came from the Supreme Being:
“My teaching is not mine, but comes from He who sent me." (John 7:16)And what was this teaching that Jesus delivered from the Supreme Being? What was his most important teaching? Jesus was in fact, asked this question directly:
“What is the most important instruction of all?” (Mark 12:28)Jesus' answer was clear, and it was the same answer that Moses gave his students (Deut. 6:5):
“The most important of all the instructions is, ‘Hear O Israel – the LORD our God is our only Lord – and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ – this is the most important instruction. (Mark 12:30)
