Jesus’s Working Holiday

David W Palmer

Matthew’s gospel tells us that Jesus sent the twelve on their first supervised mission, but it doesn’t give any description of their ministry. Thankfully, the Bible does record some of the very informative things they reported to Jesus on their return; and then it recounts what happened on their planned and well-earned rest days that followed. We look first to Mark to help us fill in the blanks:

(Mark 6:30–32 NKJV) Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. {31} And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. {32} So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

On their return, Jesus’s trainee leaders encountered a very hectic time of ministry. Jesus suggested some time off—a cruise to a place where they could “rest a while.” However, instead of relaxing into a quiet time of physical recreation, they were thrust into some inimitable on-the-job training. The twelve were about to learn the realities of following Jesus wholeheartedly, including the fundamentals of what a life of ministry means:

(Mark 6:33–34 NKJV) But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. {34} And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

By the time the boat containing Jesus and his apprentices arrived at the “secret” place of rest from ministry, a “great multitude” of needy people had already gathered, all hungry for more of Jesus.

For most people in ministry, finding an eager multitude waiting to hear from Jesus and to receive his touch would be a dream come true. However, when the trainees had already given out so much in fulfilling their initial supervised mission, they were wearily looking forward to some rest—some quiet time of being alone with Jesus. This was one occasion when the sight of the crowd probably made them quiver.

What would Jesus do? Would he tell the multitude to go away? After all, he could say, “It’s Messiah’s day off; come back tomorrow.” Although the disciples felt emotionally depleted, physically drained, and spiritually empty, they had a very important lesson from Jesus coming up:

Despite his own physical exhaustion from the “many coming and going”—so much so that “they did not even have time to eat”—Jesus’s response was probably very different to what his disciples expected. He allowed compassion for shepherdless sheep to move him into action: “he began to teach them many things.”

We certainly can all learn from this. Jesus just kept giving. After teaching all day, he must have been even hungrier physically. But again, contrary to logical expectation; instead of asking his congregation to minister to his physical needs, he took responsibility to cater for them. This was an enormous undertaking—feeding thousands of people in a remote place with no visible means of provision. But Jesus did this successfully. How?

First, he did the will of his Father; he allowed God’s compassion to lead him. This is what he said about this in another place:

(John 4:32, 34 NKJV) But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” ... {34} Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Doing the Father’s will is more satisfying than physical food. No doubt, as Jesus taught God’s word to the multitude in the deserted place, he was filled with spiritually satisfying nutrition and life. We note that Jesus said that he needed to “finish His work.” On that day in the wilderness, the work wasn’t finished until he had catered to the multitudes’ physical needs, as well as their spiritual needs. But because he already had “food to eat of which you do not know,” he was already full, and had more than enough overflow to feed the multitude.

Second, he taught the word. God’s word is supernatural, creative, faith-giving, and full of life. After teaching it all day, he was supernaturally energized—not worn out. His faith was also filled to overflowing, and the creative miracle of food multiplication was the sign that followed the word.

His apprentice leaders were already on a steep learning curve in the wilderness—giving over their holidays to serve Jesus and the multitudes that he attracts. But the day wasn’t over …

(Mark 6:45–46 NKJV) Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. {46} And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

When the teaching and the meal concluded, Jesus sent his disciples to the other side of the lake while he withdrew for private prayer. Jesus is amazing. And what a powerful lesson for us all to learn: yes, we need to rest and take time off; but at times, God has urgent priorities that supersede our need for down time. Even on our day off, he sometimes highlights opportunities, and moves us with his compassion to do what he urgently needs us to do. When he sees hungry open hearts, he sends us to feed his sheep, etc.—no matter what special day it may be. This is the “yoke” he spoke of in Mat. 11:30 (NKJV). Thankfully, doing his will and prioritizing his word is our daily bread. This can revive us, refresh us, and lead us to more prayer where we come to him and drink (John 7:37).

The disciples had finished all the catering and clean-up, but it still wasn’t time for them to rest—not even time to sleep! Right then was when Jesus urgently sent his apprentices on their second supervised mission: “Get into the boat and go before Him to the other side” of the lake. Previously when he told them to cross, they did it with him in the boat; but this time, he was on land watching over their simple mission from the mountain of prayer.

Tomorrow we will look at what happened, but for now, what can we put into practice from today’s on-the-job training?

We need to take time off. Even in the middle of an amazing move of God, Jesus initiated and prescribed the secluded down time.

However, we also see that while enjoying some recreation, we need to be aware that Father can still call on us to do something he urgently wants us to do. We will need to be wise and discerning about falling for counterfeits here, as the enemy would love to encroach on our needed, God-ordained rest time with fake emergencies and draining pseudo responsibilities. That’s why I’m so glad that in the genuine case that Jesus modeled for us, God’s word clearly says: “He was moved by compassion.” (He was certainly not moved by guilt or the need to “keep up appearances,” etc.) Divine compassion is unmistakable and un-fake-able. God’s supernatural loving compassion leading to great blessing, freedom, provision, and satisfaction is the only genuine cause to divert from his own instruction to rest. After all, even God rested on the seventh day.

Today, whether you are in full work mode or relaxing on vacation (in which case, rest guilt-free and be regenerated physically and emotionally), always be alert to God’s genuine call. Allow his flood of compassion to move you where and when he directs. Without doubt, he will either so regenerate you that it’s better than a day off, or he will arrange another break for you later.

Always acknowledge and cooperate with his call to climb the mountain of prayer—alone with him.