Mark 1:23 – At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted,
There was a man – in the synagogue. He was in the church building. He sat and listened to what was said, but he was not of Yahweh. Not everyone who sits in the house of Yahweh is serving him in Spirit and in Truth.
Mark 1:35 – In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.
Most people love this text because it shows that Jesus took the time to be alone with his Father. But in reading this in context, what stood out was that though others had demands on him, “everyone is looking for you, ” (verse 37), he took the time. He knew that unless he spent time with his Father, he would not be much help to them.