Mark 1:38 Study Bible: And he said to them, "Let us go somewhere else into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason."

◄ Mark 1:38 ►

But Jesus answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come."

But Jesus answered,

Jesus directed His disciples away from Capernaum, where many still sought Him, toward the broader work His Father had given Him.

Jhn 18:37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. You say that I am a king…
Luk 4:43 But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news…
Jhn 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will…

“Let us go on to the neighboring towns

He would not remain in one place to satisfy public demand or build a local following. The surrounding towns of Galilee also needed to hear His message.

Luk 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village…
Luk 13:22 Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages,…
Mat 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages,…

so I can preach there as well,

Jesus’ ministry centered on announcing the kingdom of God and calling people to repentance and faith.

Mat 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples…
Mrk 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around…
Mat 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,…

for that is why I have come.”

He understood His mission as one of purposeful obedience to the Father, carrying the good news throughout the region before continuing toward the cross.

Luk 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Mat 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served…
1Jn 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil,…

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. His mission is to spread His message to as many people as possible.

2. Disciples
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the disciples are with Jesus and are learning from His example and teachings. They are being prepared to continue His work.

3. Neighboring Towns
These are the surrounding areas where Jesus intends to go to preach. This indicates His mission was not limited to one place but was expansive and inclusive.

4. Preaching
The act of proclaiming the good news. Jesus emphasizes the importance of spreading His message to different communities.

5. Mission
Jesus articulates His purpose, which is to preach the gospel. This mission is central to His earthly ministry.

Teaching Points

Purposeful Mission
Jesus was clear about His mission. As believers, we should seek clarity in our purpose and align our lives with God's calling.

Expansive Reach
Jesus' desire to go to neighboring towns shows the importance of reaching beyond our comfort zones to share the gospel.

Priority of Preaching
Jesus prioritized preaching the good news. We should also prioritize sharing the gospel in our daily lives.

Model of Obedience
Jesus' obedience to His mission is a model for us. We should strive to be obedient to God's will, even when it requires us to move beyond familiar territories.

Community Engagement
Jesus' approach to visiting different towns encourages us to engage with various communities, spreading the love and message of Christ.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Jesus' response in Mark 1:38 reflect His understanding of His mission on earth?

2. In what ways can we, like Jesus, expand our reach to share the gospel with those in "neighboring towns" or communities?

3. How does the priority Jesus places on preaching challenge our own priorities in life and ministry?

4. What can we learn from Jesus' example about the importance of obedience to God's calling, even when it requires change or movement?

5. How do the connections to other scriptures, such as Matthew 4:23 and Luke 4:43, enhance our understanding of Jesus' mission and our role in continuing it today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Matthew 4:23
This verse describes Jesus traveling throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease. It highlights the comprehensive nature of His ministry.

Luke 4:43
Jesus expresses a similar sentiment about His mission to preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns, reinforcing the purpose of His coming.

Isaiah 61:1
This Old Testament prophecy speaks of the anointed one who will bring good news to the poor, which Jesus fulfills in His ministry.

Acts 1:8
Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, continuing the mission He began.

Sermons

The Illustrative Example of Christ's Work	R. Green	Mark 1:21-39
A Physician for Both Body and Soul	J.J. Given	Mark 1:32-39
An Unconscious Prophecy	J. Parker, D. D.	Mark 1:36-39
Christ the Centre of Union for All Men	J. A. Picton, M. A.	Mark 1:36-39
Christ, a Home Missionary	W. R. Williamson, D. D.	Mark 1:36-39
Christian Evangelization	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Mark 1:36-39
The Desire of Humanity for Christ	J. A. Picton, M. A.	Mark 1:36-39
The Reason for Christ's Apparently Unreasonable Departures	J. Cymore Davies.	Mark 1:36-39

People

Andrew, Ephah, Isaiah, James, Jesus, John, Simon, Zabdi, Zebedee

Places

Capernaum, Galilee, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Wilderness of Judea

Topics

Elsewhere, Forth, Let's, Message, Nearby, Nearest, Neighbouring, Preach, Proclaim, Purpose, Reason, Replied, Says, Somewhere, Teaching, Towns, Villages

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Mark 1:38

     1690   word of God
     2021   Christ, faithfulness
     2354   Christ, mission
     2363   Christ, preaching and teaching
     5335   herald
     7755   preaching, importance
     8441   goals

Library

What 'the Gospel' Is
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.--Mark i. 1 My purpose now is to point out some of the various connections in which the New Testament uses that familiar phrase, 'the gospel,' and briefly to gather some of the important thoughts which these suggest. Possibly the process may help to restore freshness to a word so well worn that it slips over our tongues almost unnoticed and excites little thought. The history of the word in the New Testament books is worth notice. It seldom occurs in those …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ's Touch
'Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him.'--Mark i. 41. Behold the servant of the Lord' might be the motto of this Gospel, and 'He went about doing good and healing' the summing up of its facts. We have in it comparatively few of our Lord's discourses, none of His longer, and not very many of His briefer ones. It contains but four parables. This Evangelist gives no miraculous birth as in Matthew, no angels adoring there as in Luke, no gazing into the secrets of Eternity, where the Word who afterwards …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Strong Forerunner and the Stronger Son
'The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee. 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Mighty in Word and Deed
'And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God. 25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Healing and Service
'Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell Him of her: 31. And He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.'--Mark i. 30, 31, R. V. This miracle is told us by three of the four Evangelists, and the comparison of their brief narratives is very interesting and instructive. We all know, I suppose, that the common tradition is that Mark was, in some sense, Peter's mouthpiece in this Gospel. The truthfulness of that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Parable in a Miracle
'And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. 41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; he thou clean. 42. And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.'--Mark i. 40-42. Christ's miracles are called wonders--that is, deeds which, by their exceptional character, arrest attention and excite surprise. Further, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Composite Picture.
It may be helpful to make the following summary of these allusions. 1. His times of prayer: His regular habit seems plainly to have been to devote the early morning hour to communion with His Father, and to depend upon that for constant guidance and instruction. This is suggested especially by Mark 1:35; and also by Isaiah 50:4-6 coupled with John 7:16 l.c., 8:28, and 12:49. In addition to this regular appointment, He sought other opportunities for secret prayer as special need arose; late at night …
S. D. (Samuel Dickey) Gordon—Quiet Talks on Prayer

The Way to the Kingdom
"The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15 These words naturally lead us to consider, First, the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God," which, saith he, "is at hand;" and, Secondly, the way thereto, which he points out in those words, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." I. 1. We are, First, to consider the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God." The same expression the great Apostle uses in his Epistle …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Repentance of Believers
"Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15. 1. It is generally supposed, that repentance and faith are only the gate of religion; that they are necessary only at the beginning of our Christian course, when we are setting out in the way to the kingdom. And this may seem to be confirmed by the great Apostle, where, exhorting the Hebrew Christians to "go on to perfection," he teaches them to leave these first "principles of the doctrine of Christ;" "not laying again the foundation of repentance …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Lord and the Leper
The Lord Jesus Christ at this day has all power in heaven and in earth. He is charged with a divine energy to bless all who come to him for healing. Oh, that we may see today some great wonder of his power and grace! Oh, for one of the days of the Son of Man here and now! To that end it is absolutely needful that we should find a case for his spiritual power to work upon. Is there not one here in whom his grace may prove its omnipotence? Not you, ye good, ye self-righteous! You yield him no space …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

Faith and Repentance Inseparable
I. I shall commence my remarking that the gospel which Christ preached was, very plainly, a command. "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Our Lord does condescend to reason. Often his ministry graciously acted out the old text, "Come, now, and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool." He does persuade men by telling and forcible arguments, which should lead them to seek the salvation of their souls. He does invite men, and oh, how lovingly he woos them to be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Answer to Mr. W's First Objection.
I WILL first consider all Mr. W's objections to these literal stories. Mr. W. says in his preamble, before he comes to propose his objections in form: That these three miracles are not equally great, but differ in degree, is visible enough to every one that but cursorily reads, and compares their stories one with another.--The greatest of the three, and indeed the greatest miracle, that Jesus is supposed to have wrought, is that of Lazarus's resurrection; which, in truth, was a most prodigious miracle, …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

The Fellowship of Prayer
THE FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." -- Phil. 4:6 This timely exhortation stresses the fact that God's people should consult with Him in every matter pertaining to life. Unless they see the imperative necessity of prayer, and give it an important place in daily life, they cannot expect to be maintained by the ample resources of a generous Saviour. It is apparent that we cannot obtain …
T. M. Anderson—Prayer Availeth Much

Healing a Demoniac in a Synagogue.
(at Capernaum.) ^B Mark I. 21-28; ^C Luke . IV. 31-37. ^b 21 And they [Jesus and the four fishermen whom he called] go into { ^c he came down to} Capernaum, a city of Galilee. [Luke has just spoken of Nazareth, and he uses the expression "down to Capernaum" because the latter was on the lake shore while Nazareth was up in the mountains.] And ^b straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. { ^c was teaching them} ^b 22 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Way from Sin to Perfect Salvation.
We have learned that sin entered this world and that all mankind have sinned. We have also learned that Jesus came to save man from his sins. Now the question may arise in the mind of some, what must I do to be saved? We hope in this chapter to quote such scriptures as will plainly teach you the way of salvation, or how to be fully saved, and also the scriptures describing each experience. Repentance. The first step for the sinner is to repent. When on Pentecost men were pricked in their hearts …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Jesus' Conception of Himself
252. When Jesus called forth the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi he brought into prominence the question which during the earlier stages of the Galilean ministry he had studiously kept in the background. This is no indication, however, that he was late in reaching a conclusion for himself concerning his relation to the kingdom which he was preaching. From the time of his baptism and temptation every manifestation of the inner facts of his life shows unhesitating confidence in the reality …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

John the Baptist
Matt. iii. 1-17; iv. 12; xiv. 1-12; Mark i. 1-14; vi. 14-29; Luke i. 5-25, 57-80; iii. 1-22; ix. 7-9; John i. 19-37; iii. 22-30. 72. The first reappearance of Jesus in the gospel story, after the temple scene in his twelfth year, is on the banks of the Jordan seeking baptism from the new prophet. One of the silent evidences of the greatness of Jesus is the fact that so great a character as John the Baptist stands in our thought simply as accessory to his life. For that the prophet of the wilderness …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

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