Take a break

When his disciples heard of it [John’s death], they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. – Mark 6.29-31

This was a tough time for Jesus and the disciples. Things had not gone well in Capernaum. Jesus had sent them out on a special ‘faith mission’ where they were told to just go and trust God to meet their needs. Then they got word that their friend and Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod. They had gone, retrieved the body, and buried him.

Then they came to Jesus and told them about everything that had happened.

They were in a situation that we might find ourselves. They were physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. There was nothing left.

And yet the people kept coming. They came so often in fact that they didn’t have time to eat.

There are many today would equate busy with spiritual. They would tell us that we need to keep our nose to the grindstone and just keep plugging away no matter how tired we get.

But that wasn’t Jesus’ advice – ‘Let’s go aside to a quiet place and rest a while.’

Jesus knew the importance of rest. He knew we needed that time apart and told the disciples to take that time. We need to be sure that we plan and take time apart to rest and recharge our batteries.

But sometimes, as we will see tomorrow, things still get in the way.