too busy

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

Mark 6:30-31

The disciples had been hard at work doing what Jesus had commanded them. In Mark 6:7-13, Jesus commissioned the twelve apostles to go through villages preaching the good news of the kingdom, calling people to repentance, and healing the sick. They were sent to do what Jesus Himself did. They returned with excitement, still busy in the work He gave them. Jesus saw, however, that they were too busy in this work. He commanded them to take a break.

There were three signs of their “over busyness” on display in verse 31: 1) Many were coming and going (lots of busy activity, but “coming and going” were not the commissioned ministry). 2) they had no leisure (there was no healthy downtime). 3) they didn’t even eat (lunch breaks, apparently dinner breaks, were lost in the insane pace). Jesus recognized this as unhealthy and unsustainable. He insisted that they stop and rest.

Jesus’ solution in the midst of the onslaught of demands made little sense from a “productivity solution” point of view. Yet, this was exactly what was needed. A reset was in order. They all piled in a boat and headed to a wild corner of the Sea of Galilee for a break. In the slow boat ride, the hope was to get away from demanding ministry (the desolation was meant to achieve relief from people overload) and to concentrate on recharging through rest. Plus the disciples would have valuable, extended, unrushed alone time with the Savior.

Jesus’ command is exactly what is needed for demanding race pace ministry lifestyles! We need Sabbath. We need wild places. We need to be unhurried in our approach to faith, obedience and service. We need to rest in the joy of the Lord, spending time alone with the Lord before facing the demands of ministry. We need our desolate places, our boat rides with Jesus, our leisure, our unhurried meals, and our Sabbath rest.