The disciples eagerly gathered around Jesus, reporting all that they had happened in their grand ministry event. This was a momentous occasion for them: Jesus had sent out the Twelve and they had completed their task: preaching, driving out demons, and healing the sick. They were exhausted, but thrilled. Jesus said the best thing any ministry worker could hear at that moment…
“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.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:31). Jesus was inviting them on a picnic. What a special time they would have!
God has invited us to a place of rest. It is so easy to be so involved with ministry that we forget about simply sharing time with the Master. But that is where we find rest: being with Him. We think that we need more sleep (and maybe we do), more free time (maybe so), or less activities (it’s probably true) – but until we rest in Him, we won’t find the depth of rest we really need.
I love the set-aside times that I can go with Him to a quiet place. The picture above was one of those very special times for me. He spoke to my heart in the solitude. But sometimes, our ideal plan for “rest” gets interrupted:
The going-in-a-boat-to-the-other-side-of-the-lake trick didn’t work as well as the disciples hoped. The crowd eventually caught up with them, and Jesus, in His perfect love, did the last thing the disciples were hoping for in the moment. He had compassion on them.
I can just hear the disciples sighing and complaining to each other, “So much time for our special picnic on the beach…” “Come on, Jesus, I thought this was supposed to be ‘us time!’ Send them away!”
As the sun began to set and Jesus continued teaching, one of the disciples had a brilliant idea for getting rid of the crowd. “We feel bad for the people, Jesus. It’s late, Jesus, and they haven’t eaten. You should dismiss the service so they can go eat…” But Jesus’ compassion for the people didn’t wain with the disciples’ selfishness. “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked them.
“Five loaves… two fish…” they responded. “Just about right for thirteen people, Jesus. It’s not too late, we can still have the picnic on the beach…”
Jesus, in His love, was ready to do a miracle – but the disciples could only think about their lack of rest. I can sense their disappointment. They felt cheated out of rest. Even after Jesus performed the miracle of feeding 5000, they were still a little upset. We find out later, “They had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened” (6:51).
Have you ever felt cheated out of rest because of how much love Jesus has another person? Like your kids? Your spouse?
Remember that His promise from Matthew 11:28 still stands: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The rest may not look like what you think it should, it may not be just what you hoped for – but rest in Him. Spend time with Him. Go away with Him, even if it’s just for ten minutes in your bedroom. He will give you rest. And no one can steal that from you.