Mark 6:30-46

Mark 6:30-32; 45-46  “The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves… Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

Today’s verses bracket Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5000 and precedes the account of Christ walking on the water.  I’m struck by the fact that in all of this, Jesus’ intent was to get away from the crowds and give the disciples some quiet time.

 

Pastor’s, churches, and leaders in general, have a nasty tendency to identify the best workers and then work them without rest or break, especially in volunteer staffed organizations.  As a result, we may burn ourselves out or we burn out the people in our care.  

 

As leaders we have a responsibility to look after ourselves and those who carry out work for and with us.  The best way to do this sometimes is to tell someone to take some time off and get away. 

 

I can recall a church event several years back where one elderly woman, a tireless worker, insisted on working the entire day.  Even though she had just had a pacemaker installed three days prior.  Despite my efforts and those of her spouse she just wouldn’t go home and rest!  Eventually, we convinced her to lie down for an hour or so and escape to a quiet (at least relatively quiet) place and rest.

 

The point is this, in our walk of faith we all need a sabbath, a rest period to recharge and re-create ourselves for what lies ahead, and it need not be one particular day of the week.  Sabbath in Hebrew means rest, and that is what we all need from time to time.  Jesus said:  “Humanity was not created for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for humanity!”  We give our best to God when we too find a quiet place and time to rest, eat, pray, and spend time with our Lord.

 

Gracious God, you create the sabbath for us rest from our labors.  Help us to heed the messages of our body and honor that need for rest.  Grant us the wisdom to find quiet times and places to recharge our soul and body, so we can better serve you this day.  Amen.