Mark 1:38

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And {G2532} he said {G3004} unto them {G846}, Let us go {G71} into {G1519} the next {G2192} towns {G2969}, that {G2443} I may preach {G2784} there also {G2546}: for {G1063} therefore {G1519}{G5124} came I forth {G1831}.

He answered, "Let's go somewhere else -- to the other villages around here. I have to proclaim the message there too -- in fact this is why I came out."

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.”

And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.

Context of Mark 1:38

This verse immediately follows a busy period of Jesus' ministry in Capernaum. After healing Simon Peter's mother-in-law and many others who were brought to Him at sundown (Mark 1:32-34), Jesus rose early the next morning to pray in a solitary place (Mark 1:35). Simon Peter and his companions sought Him out, likely wanting Him to return to Capernaum due to His immense popularity and the ongoing need for healing. However, Jesus reveals here that His mission extends beyond one town or one type of ministry, clarifying His core purpose to His disciples.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Primary Mission of Jesus: Preaching the Gospel: Jesus explicitly states that His reason for coming forth was to preach. While healing was a significant part of His ministry, demonstrating God's power and compassion, it was a means to an end—to authenticate the message of the Kingdom of God. His ultimate purpose was the proclamation of the Good News.
  • Itinerant Ministry and Broad Reach: Jesus did not intend to confine His ministry to one city, even one as receptive as Capernaum. He purposed to travel to "the next towns" (villages and cities throughout Galilee), emphasizing the need to spread the message widely. This highlights the expansive nature of God's redemptive plan.
  • Divine Purpose and Calling: The phrase "for therefore came I forth" underscores the intentionality and divine origin of Jesus' mission. He was not merely reacting to human needs but acting according to a pre-ordained plan from the Father. This echoes similar statements about His purpose found elsewhere in the Gospels, such as His declaration in Luke 4:43, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent."
  • Prioritizing the Spiritual Over the Popular: Despite the crowds and the immediate demand for healing in Capernaum, Jesus prioritized His core mission of preaching. This demonstrates that His ministry was driven by divine purpose rather than popular demand or immediate success metrics.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "preach" is kēryssō (κηρύσσω), which means "to proclaim," "to herald," or "to announce as a public messenger." It implies an authoritative and public declaration, not merely a quiet teaching. This emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message Jesus was bringing—the arrival of the Kingdom of God, a message He first proclaimed in Mark 1:15.

Practical Application

Mark 1:38 offers several profound applications for believers today:

  • Understanding Our Purpose: Just as Jesus had a clear, divinely appointed purpose, we are called to understand and pursue our own God-given missions. This often involves prioritizing spiritual work over worldly distractions or even comfortable routines.
  • The Centrality of the Gospel: This verse reminds us that the core message of Christianity is the Gospel—the good news of salvation through Christ. While acts of service, compassion, and healing are vital expressions of faith, they should ultimately point to the transformative power of Jesus and His message.
  • Willingness to Go Forth: Jesus did not stay in one place but traveled to spread the word. Believers are similarly called to be active in sharing their faith, not limiting their influence to their immediate comfort zone, but being willing to go where the message is needed, whether across the street or across the world.
  • Prioritizing God's Will: Jesus' decision to move on, despite the crowds, illustrates the importance of obeying God's will over human expectations or desires for convenience. Our lives should be guided by divine purpose, discerned often through prayer, as Jesus demonstrated just before this conversation (Mark 1:35).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 4:43

    And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

  • John 17:8

    For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

  • John 17:4

    I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

  • Luke 2:49

    And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

  • John 16:28

    I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

  • Luke 4:18

    The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

  • Luke 4:21

    And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

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