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Mark 1:38
ESV And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."
NIV Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
NASB He *said to them, 'Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.'
CSB And he said to them, "Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come."
NLT But Jesus replied, 'We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.'
KJV And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
NKJV But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

What does Mark 1:38 mean?

Given the events of the previous day, it is likely that a crowd is gathering at Peter's front door, waiting for Jesus' healing touch. Crowded or not, Jesus'solution is to leave. He isn't there primarily to heal but to preach the gospel. We're not told what Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John think about leaving their families and businesses in Capernaum, but there's no record that they hesitated.

The word translated "preach" here is from the Greek kerusso, and means "to proclaim like a herald." To "come out" is from the Greek exerchomai, which means "to come forth from a place or an assembly." Jesus is "coming out" of His life, His family, and His obscurity to proclaim God's good news of salvation. The people want physical healing and freedom from demons. They are either past the point of listening to Jesus' message or have already heard it. It is time for Jesus to spread the news to the rest of Galilee including Nazareth (Mark 6:1–6), Bethsaida (Mark 8:22), and Cana (John 2:1).

When God works in our own lives, He often gives us a quiet season of growth, training, and spiritual development, but we aren't meant to stay in that place. Eventually, we will have to "come out" and use the gifts He's given us. If we neglect that time of training, we won't be prepared. But if we're mindful, and trust God's training, He will be able to use us in powerful ways we never imagined.
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