The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Staff Retreat Cancelled
Imagine the excitement of the disciples upon returning from the mission Jesus sent them on. There had been so many firsts experienced. Demons had been cast out, sick people had been cured, and people had repented of their sins and turned to God.
Upon their arrival back to Jesus they burst forth with good reports from the mission field like a broken dam. Jesus, hardly able to contain the disciples, calls for a staff retreat, a time to debrief, encourage, retool and move into the next phase of ministry.
How exciting to retreat with Jesus when we are on the mountain top of faith. Sure, the disciples are tired; ministry is tiring even when it is enjoyable, but they are also feeling confident and exuberant. Getting away with Jesus now would be a great time of learning and spiritual growth.
Jesus gets sidetracked however. He sees the crowds who are still hungry for his attention and he cancels the staff retreat to go minister to them. If I was a disciple I would have been mad. Can’t Jesus stop paying attention to the multitude just once in a while and pay attention to me? Doesn’t he notice I need his support and affirmation?
Jesus did care about the disciples and he did spend time with them alone (Mark 9). The disciples are currently on the right path, the crowd is not. The crowd is all messed up, confused, and going the wrong direction in life. No celebration rally for the disciples, just more work. Later, when they don’t understand Jesus will take them aside and teach them, today the crowd is the more pressing need.
Ministry is like that. No rest for the jubilant. Get out there and keep ministering. Keep shepherding the lost flock. Celebrate later. Discipleship is not easy if we follow Jesus’ lead. I don’t always like it either. Frankly, I even resent it at times. Those are the times I must pray for the compassion of Jesus to flood my heart. And it does. Goodbye staff retreat, hello shepherd’s staff. - Dan Jones
The Power of A Proper Prefix
Christianity rises and falls on prefixes.
Christians in my country, America, who believe the moral teachings of the Bible apply to all time and all people, have forgotten this reality and, as a result, we have largely sacrificed a transformative role in the culture.
Remember your elementary grammer lessons about prefixes and suffixes. “Fix” means attach. “Pre” comes before and “Suf” suffers because it’s last or comes afterwards (corny but memorable). Both change the meaning of a rootword when we attach them. You see an example in the word “miss – understand – ing,” and also have the right word for how many Christians have miss – understood Jesus.
The prefix 21st century conservative Christians in America are largely known by is “anti.” Anti-abortion. Anti-homosexual [marriage, rights, etc.]. Anti-evolution. Anti- screams what a person or group is against.
Mark reveals a Jesus who invested much, if not most the opening half of his ministry communicating his compassion for people. And they got it. The message that Jesus cared came through so clearly that, as his popularity rises, crowds from all over rush out to a remote place to interupt what Jesus hoped would be a time of rest for his followers.
In just two chapters (Mark 8) Jesus will shift gears and begin talking about his death and the cost of discipleship. Many will abandon him when the subject turns from his compassion to the demands of discipleship. But the seeds will have been sown and the number of disciples will grow exponentially on the heals of his resurrection and return to heaven – even in the face of severe persecution.
Jesus’ first order of business wasn’t the sacrifice of following him, let alone what he was against, but his compassion for people. You could say it was the prefix that shaped the meaning of the root definition of Christianity – “Take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me.”
I wonder what would happen if Christians who accept the Bible’s teaching, say, about homosexuality, became widely known for their deep love and compassion for those with HIV/AIDS? Do you suppose it would require us to change our perception of those pushing a so-called “pro” homosexual agenda from “enemy combatants” to “sheep without a shepherd”?
We’d still be controversial. Still illicite accusations of bigotry. Still be accused of hate. But, alas, a whole lot more like Jesus’ approach to people. And just maybe we’d sow the seeds of a that revival in America so many of us pray for, but by our prefix choice work against.
Lord of My Life, Forgive me for being weak on compassion. Show me ways to authically care for hurting people, no matter who they are – or their sexual orientation, and to do so without qualification. I want to be like your son, Jesus. - Mike Leamon
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