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Mark 1:35
ESV And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
NIV Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
NASB And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.
CSB Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.
NLT Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
KJV And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
NKJV Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

What does Mark 1:35 mean?

The previous day, Jesus had taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, healed a demon-possessed man who interrupted His teaching, healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and then seen to the needs of as many of the people of Capernaum as could get to Him. Instead of sleeping in, He recharges by finding a "desolate place" to spend quiet time with God the Father. The Greek word used here, eremos, means a solitary, lonely, uninhabited place, which may be in a desert or wilderness.

Somewhat of a pattern appears here early in the ministry of Christ in Mark's Gospel. Jesus spent time alone in the desert when He was tempted before He began His ministry (Mark 1:12–13). Here, Jesus spends time alone in prayer as He prepares to move to a new area to serve others in ministry. Later, He will spend some time alone praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His most difficult ministry of all: His sacrifice on the cross.

His example is important for every believer. We cannot do the ministry God gives us to do if we are not filled with Him. Everyone who claims to follow Christ should take the time alone to recharge, talk to God, read Scripture, and consider what God has for us next. Doing ministry on our own power will likely lead to fatigue and burn-out or pride and a sinful fall from grace. Spending time with God keeps our focus on Him and off ourselves.
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