Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” [Mark 6:31 NIV]
[Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.]
This verse provides another illustration of Jesus' popularity. Wherever he went with his disciples, they were mobbed with people wanting to meet Jesus, especially those who were needing His healing touch. This had a negative effect on their wellbeing and Jesus was aware of this. They were so busy that they found it difficult to get a chance to eat. For someone like me who loves food, this is serious! I have often been busy, especially before I retired but I always found time to eat. So Jesus, the great physician prescribed a time of rest and recuperation for the team. The disciples were busy telling Jesus about all of their activities on their mission.
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. [Mark 6:30 NIV]
Are they too preoccupied with themselves and their effort? Have they forgotten that they are serving the Lord and it is His mission? So Jesus wants to correct them and make them more dependent on his power. But he diagnoses that they need to spend time alone in His presence away from the crowds and away from all their activities.
I have just returned from an overnight stay at Faskally Christian Centre near Pitlochry in Perthshire. Dave Bremner the Managing Director of Go! Youth Trust invited his staff and volunteers to a time away from all the activity and pressure to an event which he called 'Refresh'. Despite the storm which was ravaging parts of the U.K., we enjoyed a beautiful day on the shores of this breath-taking loch with the snow-capped hills in the background. We had a time of fellowship together and Dave presented some challenging Bible teaching from Acts 2. This was an opportunity to rest and relax and to reflect. It was a time to draw breath and to raise our hearts in worship.
But there was a challenge! Dave read from Acts chapter 2 and encouraged us to leave the comfort of our Upper Room where we have been blessed and encouraged. The disciples were commissioned to go into the public arena and proclaim God's message to the people. They were sent on a mission and they had to go to serve the Lord. There is always the temptation that we will take refuge away from the pressures of the Lord's service and enjoy the fellowship and security of the Upper Room. Dave was encouraging us to 'step out of our comfort zone.' So Jesus is not encouraging his disciples here to be lazy and self-indulgent. We are engaged in a mission. We are engaged in a battle with an enemy who never sleeps. He is actively involved in hindering God's work. Here is how Peter puts it:
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
[1 Peter 5:8 NIV]
So while we need to rest, we also need to be vigilant and active. So when Jesus invited his disciples to a quiet place and get some rest, he was not giving them an excuse to stop serving him and to pamper themselves. Notice that he specifically instructed them to '“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” The word 'with me' is significant. We need to spend time in God's presence if we are going to serve him effectively. That is where we will have our spiritual batteries recharged. I enjoy cycling around the Falkirk area and beyond and it is good for my physical wellbeing. But I need to spend time with Jesus if I am going to have spiritual refreshment. One of the issues I faced when I was volunteering at Keswick Convention was that there were too few opportunities to have spiritual refreshment. I was expending all my physical energy in long days of service from early morning until late at night and I became exhausted physically and spiritually. I was not having enough opportunity to have spiritual refreshment. I was becoming drained spiritually and this putting my spiritual welfare at risk. I soon discovered my weak state when I encountered the enemy in various disguises. I decided to make sure that there was a time of spiritual uplift and prayer built into each day's schedule. We had good times of devotion as a team and I made sure that I had more opportunities to pray and read the Bible sometime in a busy schedule.
This is described as the 'servant's rest.' It is not about indulging ourselves or pampering ourselves. It is primarily about spending time in prayer, Bible reading and meditation and having a close time of devotion with the Lord. Some of my friends enjoy listening to hymns and that also may be uplifting and God honouring.
Our lives become very crowded and busy. Many Christians are very active - the whole week is taken up with activities and events. Since retiring from a very active and exhausting role in educational management, I have much more free time - in theory. But it is surprising how quickly the calendar becomes cluttered with engagements and meetings. This can be a good thing - and my personality likes to be active. But there is the danger that we think that our spirituality is measured by the amount of service in which we are engaged. We all need to give a high priority to looking after our spiritual welfare to the same extent as we look after our physical and material wellbeing. Time spent alone with God in the 'quiet place of rest' is not time wasted. It is absolutely vital for our spiritual wellbeing that we spend time in seclusion - with our Lord and Master.
[Photo by Sixteen Miles on Unsplash.]
Thank you Robert for these challenging words of wisdom at the start of another week.