Do you have a special place where you go to relax? It might be a vacation spot, or maybe a corner chair with a book. Far too often we don’t have a place where we really relax. The once a year vacation, or the weekend away does not make up for the day in day out stress that most of us carry. In many ways, it would be nice to go back in time to a simpler time, before cell phones, before 24/7 news programming, before instant everything. But then we would have to get back polio, yellow fever and the plague! I am not sure I want the tradeoff.
Jesus had a place where He would retreat when He wanted to refresh and clear His head. It seems, at least from Mark, that the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum was just such a place for Him. Mark has Him going there with His disciples. That was His goal, to be there with them.
It was important for Jesus to spend time with His disciples without the crowds. The best leaders are able to create bonds with those who surround them. Leadership is about connection. Few people will truly follow someone they don’t know. Jesus wanted His disciples to know Him, just as He wants us to know Him. This is not knowing cold, hard facts. This is not being able to quote His words. This is not being able to answer “What would Jesus do?” to any given situation. Jesus wanted His disciples to know Him.
This doesn’t mean the your pastor of your 10,000 member church will know the name and history of everyone who attends. Everyone won’t be invited to their backyard BBQ. But your small group leader had better know these things. And we need to share these things with that small group leader. Don’t share the credit card numbers, but be open with them about the real struggles you are having. They should also be open about their struggles. Genuineness breads genuineness. Authenticity fosters authenticity. Plastic is for recycling, so don’t be plastic.
But the crowds show up. Jesus’ intention was for some quiet time with His disciples, but that time is interrupted with needs. People from all directions of the compass head to the beach to be with Jesus. They want to get in on the action. Spring Break! Well not exactly. No one at Spring Break speaks Truth to the youth gone wild crowd. That time is about rule-breaking, experimentation, out-of-the-box behavior. What’s done in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
.Jesus wanted time with His disciples, but the crowds show up. So when you go to your place of quiet reflection and something interrupts, don’t be afraid to meet the need and then go back to that quiet place. We all need it.
The Arnold Journey 