Mark 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. The stresses of life and relationship, world events and personal struggles, illness and success all take a toll on us personally. And I live in Florida, the playground of playgrounds! People come from around the world to play here, which says something about our world.
We all need time to recharge after draining activities, whatever they may have been. Our batteries get drained. We need to plug in and stop the activity in order to gain strength.
If you have ever traveled internationally, you know that keeping your cell phone charged can be an issue. Up until very recently, airports didn’t accommodate those of us who needed to charge our phones, tables and computers. We would search the walls of the airport waiting rooms for an empty wall socket. Now the airports are beginning to place charging stations. Some even have a few seats with the charging station right next to the seats.
I am amazed as I travel around Florida the number of toys parked in driveways and side yards. Boats, campers, and jet-skis are scattered across neighborhoods. And to look at satellite photos you would think everyone has a swimming pool in their back yard. I thought people built swimming pools to actually use! Most sit unused. What a waste!
Even Jesus and his followers needed to pull back and try to get some peace and quiet. Everywhere Jesus went the crowds seem to follow and find Him. Even as incarnate deity, Jesus became weary. He would pull away and need to recharge.
And the disciples were just people, so they needed to pull back even more than Jesus did. And so our text talks about one of those days. The disciples had just returned from a two by two trip. They had been sent out to share the good news, heal the sick and cast out demons. They had been successful. And Jesus wants to pull them aside and debrief them. He knows they need it.
But as usually happens, as they try to do this, the crowds figure out where they are headed and they get there ahead of them. Instead of being able to spend time regrouping and consolidating what the disciples have experienced, Jesus is thrust into crowd ministry. This is not what He had planned.
Have you ever tried to pull away and find a moment of peace and quiet to regroup? I know every mom on the planet has! The tugging at the legs, the “I need a drink” and “Mom, can you find…” can use up every bit of a parent’s energy.
Now imagine facing a crowd of over 5000 who need food! The disciples are supposed to be recharging by spending some quality time with Jesus, but instead, they are in the food distribution industry. They take part in a miracle! A great thing, but not pulling back and being alone with Jesus.
But they still need some time to recharge with Jesus. They need the debrief, where lessons learned can be emphasized and spiritual gains can be consolidated. But it doesn’t happen. Neither the Disciples nor Jesus get this down time, even though that was the intended outcome of getting in the boat and traveling.
When was the last time you took time to pull away and refresh in Jesus’ presence? When was the last time you reflected on the work of God in your life and allowed the spiritual lessons to be consolidated and refined by time alone with Him?
It is going to take considerable effort to make this happen in your life, but for all of us, it is needed.
The Arnold Journey 