Rest Interrupted
Mark 6:30-44
Good morning.
I want you to think about the kind of rest you hope to get when you have nothing urgent to wake up for, the next morning.
You think, tomorrow is a day with nothing planned, so you go to bed with little to dwell on, thinking you are going to get good rest; but, then something wakes you up and disturbs your sleep.
The Lifebridge Health website says, “Don’t take a good night’s sleep for granted. It’s more important for your overall health than you may think.
Sleepiness throughout the day after minimal shut-eye isn’t the only possible consequence.
Other problems may include those that affect your immune system, thought process and cardiovascular health.
In addition to daytime sleepiness, missing or interrupted sleep can cause: irritability, decreased creativity, increased stress, decreased accuracy, tremors, aches, and memory lapses or loss.
It can even cause symptoms similar to ADHD and contribute to increased heart rate and risk of heart disease and stroke.
Less than ideal sleep also can lead to an impaired immune system. When you lack sleep, your body makes fewer proteins that help fight inflammation and infection.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 6 as we continue that study
Last week, we learned how Herod Antipas had murdered John the Baptist and how he then believed Jesus was John the Baptist, risen from the dead.
John the Baptist spoke out against Herod’s illegal marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.
When Herod’s birthday was celebrated, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, came in before the king and his attendants and pleased them with a seductive dance.
In his excitement over his step daughter’s dance, Herod promised to give Salome whatever she desired.
So, the head of John the Baptist was given to Salome and she took it to her wicked, adulterous, mom.
We learned that our proper response to the knowledge that Jesus already knows about our sin, is to swallow our pride, turn from our sinful behavior, and run to Jesus; which is repentance.
Today we will learn what happened when the Apostles returned, after being sent out by Jesus with special power for ministry.
I. Down-time with the Lord.
Read Mark 6:30-32
Most commentators believe the news about the death of John the Baptist had reached Jesus before the Disciples returned from their mission.
As the Disciples told Jesus about all they had done and taught on their mission; they also let Jesus know they were living and serving at a relentless pace.
Jesus cares enough about His followers to notice what is going with them. He could tell by their report, their appearance, and by their voices, the Disciples were tired and worn.
Jesus knew the Disciples needed rest; but, they did not need just any rest, they needed rest and fellowship with Him!
Notice vs. 31, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while
Not only did Jesus show compassion for His Disciples, He was also trying to teach them an important lesson about timing.
Jesus said in John 5:17, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." NKJV
There is a time to serve and a time to rest; both are important.
Notice vs. 31 says that there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Like many other times where Jesus was ministering; the crowds show up in such large numbers and Jesus and His Disciples are overran, not even having time for their own basic needs.
In Matthew 9:37, it says, “Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” NKJV
It is important to seek the Lord’s direction in order to get the timing correct, when to work, when to wait, and when to rest.
There are of course differing personalities within Christians; some are workers and others can be less motivated to serve.
Some Christ followers fail to realize, rest is as important in our lives, as working for the Lord.
J. R. Edwards said, “The greater the demands on them, the greater their need to be alone with Jesus.”
There are times when we may have to give up what seems like an immediate need and resist the temptation to set our own timeline, as we surrender to God’s timing.
Adam Clarke said, “Rest is necessary for those who labor; and a zealous preacher of the Gospel will as often stand in need of it as a galley slave.”
Rest in the Lord, is freedom from work, toil, strain or activity; it is the cessation of motion or action of any kind; it is a rest from labor, from mental exertion or rest of body or mind.
A body is at rest, when it ceases to move. The mind is at rest, when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated.
The Lord’s rest also means freedom from whatever worries or disturbs you; ultimately, rest happens when we trust the Lord.
R. Kent Hughes said, “As Christians, we understand there is no rest for the soul apart from Christ.
A lack of rest is one of the reasons Jesus told His Disciples as they were worrying about His departure.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:4 And where I go you know, and the way you know."
John 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV
If you have entered God’s rest through the person of Jesus Christ, you should stop trying to work to earn God’s favor; because you know you have favor from God, by faith in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV
The Lord wants us to stop toiling and simply rest in His finished work; we can only stop toiling as we believe all He has said and trust in Him!
God has offered us His complete rest from striving to earn His salvation and favor, if we will simply receive Him by faith.
So here in our narrative in Mark 6, Jesus cares enough for these followers to insist they take a time out from serving.
Jesus knew these followers needed alone time with Him, because He knows serving Him must never eclipse fellowship with Him.
II. The compassion of Jesus.
Read Mark 6:33-34
As Jesus gets into the boat to leave for some alone time; the crowds are needy and they are running on land to follow Him.
Jesus had a proper perspective on the Father’s will and His call to ministry and He wanted some alone time with His Disciples; but, the people were needy, so Jesus showed them compassion.
I wonder how often we get tired and fail to have compassion on people who the Lord has purposely placed in our path so we can minister to them.
We all need down time in our lives; but sometimes, we can get so tired just doing life that we walk right by God given opportunities to represent Jesus to hurting people.
Jesus had compassion for people as He ministered to the crowds by healing the sick and then He ministered to the crowds by teaching them.
Teaching people about Kingdom principles shows compassion because we have the Words of Life; to whom else can they go?
We walk by spiritually dead people every day; we need to show them where true life comes from, which are the Words of Jesus.
The compassion Jesus had here is similar to the situation where Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter and others.
Matthew 9:36, “He was moved with compassion for them”.
Compassion means, “To have the bowels yearn; to be moved as to one's bowels, for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity”.
This means to be deeply moved to the point of getting sick.
Have you ever been moved so deeply be something that it made you sick like you were about to throw up?
Just like our narrative this morning, Mark 6:34 says, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. NKJV
The people had no real spiritual leader to reveal Kingdom truths, so they were exhausted.
Philip Long said, “Since they are like sheep without a shepherd, the people are “harassed and helpless.” They were lost sheep. Sheep are not well equipped to care for themselves and those who wander off from the flock becomes prey.
Who is harassing the people? It is possible this harassment refers to life under the Romans; “sheep without a shepherd” makes an allusion to the leadership of Israel.”
In Numbers 27, Moses realizes when he dies there will be no one to lead Israel in the wilderness, they will be like sheep scattered in the wilderness without a shepherd.
Here in Mark 6, Jesus realizes that Israel has turned their back on the Lord, and these lost sheep are being spiritually and physically harassed because they do not have a Shepherd.
Jesus is broken hearted because the affects of the sin the Israel had chosen, instead of following the Lord; so Jesus began to teach them many things.
III. A test of trust.
Read Mark 6:35-37
Instead of being compassionate towards these needy people, notice the Disciples tell Jesus to send them away.
These Disciples have been serving people moment by moment for a very long time without a break; so, it is understandable that they are tired of meeting people’s needs.
Because Jesus was fully man as well as fully God; He also knows what it is like to be tired.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. NKJV
Jesus is fully committed to the Father’s will; so, He will never rest from giving mercy or compassion.
Psalm 121:3 He who keeps you will not slumber. NKJV
Notice when evening came, the Disciples tell Jesus to send them away into the village to go and buy food, because they were in a desolate place.
In the Gospel of John, the account seems to indicate this was also a test for Phillip since he was originally from Bethsaida.
Jesus basically tells the Disciples to pick up the tab for dinner.
John tells us in John 6:5, Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
John 6:6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
But notice how Phillip responds to Jesus’ request…
John 6:7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little." NKJV
A denarii was a day’s wage, so this would have been a pretty expensive dinner check.
Philip was focusing on the difficulty of the huge need, instead on the huge God he has right there beside him. Philip says, “We don’t have enough money”; because he was not relying on Jesus.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV
Our difficulties in life must always be measured by the One completing the job; with Jesus, there is never a shortage of resources.
When the Lord called people to the Great Commission, He knew the job was too big for mere mortals. We do not have the power to raise a dead man to life or to make someone born again.
The modern church tries to dream up new ministries to attract people to come to church and figure out how to pay for it; but, ministry is not supposed to be man’s idea or invention.
Ministry should always flow from the heart of Jesus and then where God guides, God provides; because ministry is born out of the affection of Christ.
Jesus ministered to the crowd and moved with compassion for them.
Philippians 1:8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. NKJV
The word affection in the KJV is the same word used when Jesus was moved with compassion (bowels) which means intestines, or the heart, lungs, liver, etc.
Paul’s love for the church did not come from his own heart; but, it flowed out the heart of Jesus to Paul. Ministry is all about our relationship to Jesus and letting His love flow out of us to others
It is unfortunate that the majority of Christians look at the crowd, and wants to send them away; but, Jesus never runs out of Grace or love.
The Church needs to learn to minister out of the power and overflow of Jesus’ heart; so Jesus tells His disciples to feed them
IV. The Lunchable miracle.
Read Mark 6:38-44
Many of the signs and wonders Jesus did are recorded in some of the Gospels; but, this is the only miracle performed by the Lord, before His crucifixion, which is in all four of the Gospels.
It is evident there is a special lesson, God would have us learn.
In vs. 38, we are told they came to Jesus saying they had five loaves and two fish. In John’s Gospel we are told
John 6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
John 6:9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" NKJV
Andrew was always in the background bringing people to Jesus. Andrew brought his brother Peter to Jesus; in John 6,
Andrew brought this boy with his lunch to Jesus and in John 12, and he also brought some seeking Gentiles to Jesus.
Let’s talk about this lunch for a moment; the two fish mentioned here, can be compared to sardines.
The five loaves are similar to barley, more like crackers than loaves of bread.
This lunch was a meager offering; but, given to Jesus it becomes more than enough. Our meager offerings given to Jesus, with the right motivation, will always be enough.
Think about the meager things in scripture, once given to God become more than enough. A sling shot with 5 little stones was more than enough in the hands of the Lord to take down a giant.
A handful of flour in a bin along with a little oil in a jar, fed a woman and her son until the Lord gave rain to a dry land. Some dust of the earth was enough for the Lord to create mankind.
In Mark 6, Jesus told these men to feed the people; but, they were trusting in themselves to accomplish the task. Our talents finally become more than enough once in Jesus’ hands.
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. NKJV
You may think you are too broken to be of use to the kingdom; but, Jesus uses broken things to minister to a broken world.
1 Corinthians 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. NKJV
Re-read Mark 6:41-42
As Jesus broke the loaves, creation happened right before their eyes. Jesus was demonstrating His power as Lord of creation.
Jesus amazes people who have small expectations of what He can do once we give Him what we have. Jesus’ mathematics are very different than ours; little is much when God is in it.
When Christians are willing to offer their lives sacrificially, giving up our hold, on whatever God has given us; He will use those ordinary things to create extraordinary things.
As Christ followers we must never believe our resources are too little to serve God; the Lord delights in using insignificant people for His glory.
In verse 42…The word, “filled” means to be satisfied and even to gorge; it means to fulfill or satisfy the desire of any one.
When the Lord supplies, His extravagance is over flowing.
After 5000 men, plus women and children are glutted full, Jesus told His Disciples to pick up the leftovers.
The baskets mentioned in Mark 6, were small ones, typically used for someone’s lunch. The baskets used in Mark 8, during the feeding of the 4,000, are very large, like a duffel bag.
Remember how this started, the Disciples wanted to send this hungry people away; but, Jesus told them to feed the people.
Then Andrew brought a boy who had a very meager lunch to Jesus and He created enough food for everyone to be filled.
Jesus provided His own Disciples with a personal lunch for themselves from the leftovers.
Remember, this started with Jesus giving the Disciples a much needed time out; but, then a crowd showed up needing ministry.
Now with the leftovers from the miracle, the Disciples get their needs met by Jesus; each one was personally taken care of.
V. Practical Application.
Who are you and what do you have in your hands? Give it to Jesus and He will provide more than enough.
The Lord only asks us to start with what we have; He asks us to give what we have to Him and then do what He tells us to do.
We are distributors of what He gives; we are not manufactures.
Any time we try to manufacture something that only He can create, the work will be short lived; but, when God blesses you with ability, may we never waste or misuse it.
Real kingdom work is 100% relational; as Jesus said in John 15, without Him we can do nothing. Just as Paul’s love for the church did not come from him, it came from the heart of God
Ministry is about having a relationship with Jesus; letting His love flow out of us and then love others through us!
This is the only way we can keep from becoming Compassion Fatigued while serving others for the kingdom.
Jesus grace and love never run out, so we must minister out of the overflow we receive from Him. I pray we are never too tired to minister to the people the Lord puts in our path! However…
It is important for us to seek the Lord’s direction in order to get timing correct, when to work, when to wait, and when to rest.
There are different personalities within Christians; some are workers and others can be less motivated to serve. So, some Christians fail to realize, rest is as important in our lives.
J. R. Edwards said, “The greater the demands on them, the greater their need to be alone with Jesus.”
There are times when we may have to give up what seems like an immediate need and resist the temptation to set our own timeline, as we surrender to God’s timing.
Rest in the Lord, is freedom from work, toil, strain or activity; it is the cessation of motion or action of any kind; it is a rest from labor, from mental exertion or rest of body or mind.
A body is at rest, when it ceases to move. The mind is at rest, when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated.
The Lord’s Rest also means freedom from whatever worries or disturbs you; ultimately, rest happens when we trust the Lord.
