Tell it to Jesus

This appeared at the blog associated with the Blue Letter Bible online Bible platform under the title F. E. Marsh: What is Prayer.

The following is taking from the mini-commentaries of F.E. Marsh, now available at the Blue Letter Bible. Marsh’s text commentaries were released with the new beta version of the Blue Letter Bible.

---

“But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.”
(Mark 1:30 NKJV)

What is prayer? It is illustrated in this verse. Speaking to Christ is prayer. Prayer is not getting on to the stilts of word-ism, nor floating in the balloon of honeyed phrases by the aid of the gas of human eloquence, inflating the mind with self-conceit; but it is simply telling the Lord the heart’s need, or speaking to Him in a natural manner as we ask favors for others.

It is…

• Telling Him the trouble, as the disciples of John, when they went and informed Christ that their teacher was beheaded (Matthew 14:12).
• Telling Him the sorrow, as when Mary went to Christ about her dead brother Lazarus (John 11:32).
• Telling Him the pain, as when Paul prayed about the thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8).
• Telling Him the grief, as when the Syrophenician woman cried to Christ about her daughter (Matthew 15:22).
• Telling Him the joy, as when the disciples spoke of the demons they had cast out in His name (Luke 10:17).
• Telling Him the difficulty, as when the disciples asked to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1).
• Telling Him the sickness, as in the present case.

“They told Him about her…” Jesus has made it possible for us to tell Him, for He has died for us; hence we can come boldly to the throne of grace through the consecrated way of His atonement, and speak to Him face to face. He has told us to come to Him, for He has said “Whatsoever we shall ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). His promise is our plea and introduction in speaking to Him. We remember who He is, and as we do so we are drawn towards Him, as the needle is drawn to the loadstone.

He is the Shepherd who tends us, and ever looks after our interests.

He is the Priest who represents us, and succors us in the hour of temptation.

He is the Friend who thinks of us, and always sympathizes with us.

He is the Brother who cares for us, and is ever ready to aid us.

He is the Savior who delivered us, and will always keep us.

He is the God who has blessed us, and will never leave us.

He is the Lover who loves us, and will never be unfaithful.

Tell Him, for He cares. Tell Him, for He knows. Tell Him, for He loves. Tell Him, for He is listening. Tell Him all. Tell Him often. Tell Him always. Tell Him now.

“They told Him about her...” They were very definite in their petition and pointed in their plea. They did not vacillate or hesitate, but they went right to the mark and hit it. And methinks as they saw the once fevered patient calm and cool, as she waited upon them, they rejoiced; and if they had wanted a new name for Simon’s wife’s mother, they might have called her Answered-Prayer.