“He said to them, ‘Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while’ (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat).”
Mark 6. 31
After the Twelve returned from preaching in Israel, Jesus wanted them to rest, far from the crowds. He knew the value of resting from one’s labors.
Jesus had the habit of getting away from the crowds to rest and pray, Mk 1.35. He created moments for the Twelve as well and shows us the importance of respecting this need in ourselves.
“Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.”
Mark 6.30
Jesus had sent out the Twelve to preach only in Israel and to heal the sick, vv. 7-13. They reported in to him when they returned.
We learn from Jesus when we obey him. Our mission is unlimited, and he gives us on-the-job training. He shows us our mistakes and teaches us how to deal with our successes.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Matthew 10.37
Jesus sent the Twelve on a limited preaching tour, but Matthew finds many enduring lessons from the Lord’s instructions.
How does loving a relative more than Jesus demonstrate itself?
“I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.”
John 8.51
The Jews could not accept this claim of Jesus’, because they were disobedient to God’s will and did not belong to God, v. 47. They rightly understood that such a promise could only come from one who was greater than Abraham.
The condition that Jesus sets down is also rejected by many religious people today. They refuse to obey God in order to escape eternal death. But the Lord’s emphatic introduction calls attention to his statement, that cannot be dismissed nor twisted.
FAITH
One of the most rewarding studies in which one can engage is of what the Bible teaches about “Faith.” The biblical definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 where it is said, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” “Substance” is that which “stands under” and supports the spiritual realities we hope for. Faith gives substance to those invisible realities. Continue reading
“For everything there is an appointed time,
and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;”
Ecclesiastes 3.1-2
Solomon apparently believed there is a fixed order of events determined by God. Humans are not independent of God. Just as he set the heavenly lights to determine seasons and years, so he determines the times for human activities.
If there is an appointed time to die, and that appointed time is not known to us, then now is the appropriate time to prepare for the moment of death.
“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.”
James 5.10
James points to the need for patience until the Lord’s return. He mentions the OT prophets as examples. They spoke God’s word of repentance to Israel for years under most trying circumstances.
Christ’s people also speak in his name and face suffering because of it. What other parallels with the prophets can be made?