rest a while

Mark 6:30&31

"30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

We have invested our devotional time in reading the Gospel of Mark this summer. I commend you for studying God’s word, this world needs more Holy Bible studying Christians. The teachings and events recorded in pages of the Holy Bible has made the world a better place.

This week, before we move on from the Gospel of Mark, we are going to review what my Pastor considers the most important point in the book. Other than the events in and arond crucifixion and resurrection, the one event appearing in all four Gospels is the feeding of the five thousand.

All four accounts describe Jesus multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of about 5,000 men (plus women and children in Matthew), with twelve baskets of leftovers gathered afterward. John uniquely notes that a boy provided the food and uses the miracle as the setup for the “Bread of Life” discourse.

Today’s verses are leading up to this momentous occasion. We read about the return of the apostles from their first missionary journey, during which they reported to Jesus all they had done and taught.

Recognizing their exhaustion and the relentless pressure of the crowds, Jesus invited them to withdraw to a desolate place to rest, noting that the constant influx of people had left them with no leisure time, not even time to eat. 

This passage highlights the human need for rest and solitude amidst intense ministry demands. Jesus prioritized their physical and spiritual restoration over immediate engagement with the crowds, modeling the importance of withdrawing for private reflection and renewal.