If you are full or part time, or a volunteer who serves God’s people lovingly and selflessly who have needs and more needs, you identify with the beginning of Mark’s story well.  “Come off by yourselves—let’s take a break and get a little rest,” says Jesus their leader and master teacher.  So, the disciples get in a boat to try to do that but they are met with even more people with a need to know the Savior and Jesus is not going to turn seekers away.  And we won’t either!

Confession.  One day I was really tired from teaching first graders this particular day.  It was a hectic day with all that goes into a day of teaching little ones where anything and everything could happen.  I was so pressed for time; I didn’t have a spare moment to eat that day.  So, the weakness only grew.  Later in the day, I got a call from Randy, my pastor husband, who related that one of our members had emergency open heart surgery. He said we need to go see him as soon as I finished the school day, “I’ll pick you up.”  After school, we rushed to the hospital.  I don’t always do well with hospitals—it’s mental thing.  But our dear friend was there, and I pushed through and did what it takes to serve him who has suffered trauma and surgery.  Also, this friend came to church every other week but had yet to accept Jesus as Savior.

The surgery was a success.  He was in a VA hospital ward with others recovery from illnesses and surgeries.  He had a tray of unfinished food before him.  He welcomed us with smiles.  That relieved Randy and I.  Suddenly, my phobia, lack of eating or resting kicked in.  I knew I might pass out, but didn’t want to do so in front of our friend—in a hospital ward!  I prayed I would not and held tightly to the rail on the side of his bed.  Randy, who knows me well, knew what was happening.  He told our friend we probably should go so he could rest without telling him what I was feeling.  Good, we were about to leave. I knew if I left the room, breathed deeply, I would be okay.

However, it was THIS day that our friend asked us to pray with him.  He had never asked before.  Of course, we are going to turn back around and pray it through with him.  What a glorious day for we had been praying for him to receive Jesus for years!  Randy prayed, I held on to the side bar once more.  At the end of the prayer, I passed out.  I woke to a young doctor learning over me on the floor beside our friend’s bed with my blood pressure being taken.  It was so embarrassing for me, but it greatly affected our friend who later came to Jesus!  Worth it!

Surprise!! Great things happen when God is in control even when we lose control. Rest will come but not when you planned.  I learned a great lesson that day!  When Jesus calls out to us to come away with Him, do it!  Our rest times are refreshing and keeps us fit spiritually but also physically, mentally, and emotionally.  We must take time to be with God and ask what He wants for his “yoke is lighter and an easier fit.”  We must lay down our burdens of unfitting yokes we place upon ourselves—all the way down!  We must take time to take care of our bodies because our bodies house the “temple” in which God’s Holy Spirit abides in us as He leads us.  Taking time even in small doses through the day with “Lead me, Jesus” prepares us for the next great adventure with God! 

Mark 6, The Message

Supper for Five Thousand

^30-31 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.

^32-34 So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.

^35-36 When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: “We are a long way out in the country, and it’s very late. Pronounce a benediction and send these folks off so they can get some supper.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You do it. Fix supper for them.”

They replied, “Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?”

³⁸ But he was quite serious. “How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory.”

That didn’t take long. “Five,” they said, “plus two fish.”

^39-44 Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people. He did the same with the fish. They all ate their fill. The disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. More than five thousand were at the supper.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Where Jesus leads—Follow!  For He knows what is best always.

Jesus provides glorious surprises along our journey when we follow Him.

Jesus calls us to rest and when He does, we must do it.  He knows exactly what we need when we need it most.

God continues to invite us to join Him in His work of “feeding” people with Truth.

Remember, in this story the disciples were hungry, too!  They were fed along with the 5000 plus people gathered there!

God continually asks, “What do you have?”  We tell Him.  He says, that is enough.

Give of your best to the Master…

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing…

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.