Mark 6:30-34
TIME OUT!
LIFE OF CHRIST #27
Anybody familiar with football or basketball, is familiar with the words “time out”. It’s a time when teams take a quick break for strategy and/or a quick breather.
“Time out” is also a term we use for discipline. Sometimes when children misbehave they are given, a “time out” where they must sit by themselves quietly.
There are times in our lives when we realize that we need to take a “time out”. We need a break!
One such time for me occurred in Sweet Valley, Pennsylvania when I pastored there. I had three funerals in two weeks, including one of our church deacons, and a man I tried to help revive through CPR. I had been constantly on the move and evidently emotionally drained.
One morning, while at our Christian School, I got a phone call from a lady who wanted me to do something with another church that I didn’t want to do. I was very short and rude to her without really realizing it. Thankfully, one of the staff, Ann Smith, heard me and confronted me with my ill behavior. I realized that she was right, and that I was physically and emotionally spent.
Although I had things to do, I went home and took a nap and rested the rest of the day. When the kids came home from school we played games. I called the lady and apologized. I had come to a point when I absolutely needed to take a time out.
We return to our series on the Life of Christ. Last week we saw Jesus heal two people, Jairus’ daughter, and a woman that had been sick for twelve years. We saw that Jesus is available to help when we need Him.
After Jairus’ daughter was healed, Jesus evidently made a second visit to his hometown of Nazareth and was again rejected because of the unbelief of the people there.
He also sent the 12 disciples out in pairs on a preaching tour. And around this time, Jesus was informed that King Herod had executed John the Baptist.
The disciples returned to Jesus after their preaching tour. It is at this time that we see Jesus taking his men on a “time out” that turned out not to be very long at all.
There are lessons to be learned here. We can sum up the lessons using four words beginning with the letter “C”.
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
COUNSEL – REST WHEN NECESSARY – Vs. 31
COMPASSION – REALIZE THE NEED – Vss. 32-34A
CONDUCT – RESPOND TO THE NEED – Vs. 34B
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
Vs. 30 – This is the only place in the Gospel of Mark that the twelve are called “apostles”. Usually, they are disciples in Jesus’ presence. They are learners, trainees, students.
Here they are called apostles because the term means “one sent”, a messenger. Indeed, in this context, that’s exactly what they were for a brief time. Later, in the Book of Acts, they were more frequently called Apostles, because of Jesus’ orders for them to go into the world to preach the Gospel.
I see a simple lesson here. Our first responsibility as born again Christians is to be Christ’s disciples. A disciple is a learner.
Matthew 11:28-30 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Note the words, and learn of me. These are key words. We need to learn from our Master.
John 12:26 - If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
To serve the Lord Jesus we must follow Him. When we follow the Lord Jesus we will learn from Him. When we learn from Him, we will be like Him.
Matthew 10:25a - It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord…
Our first responsibility as born again Christians is to be disciples. The second responsibility of born again Christians is to be apostles. We are not the original apostles who had seen the risen Savior. But we are ones sent. We are messengers. The great commission was not just for the 12 but for each of us who name the name of Christ.
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Romans 10:13-15 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Think of yourself as an apostle. One sent with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you.
You are an apostle at work.
You are an apostle at play, even hunting and fishing.
You are an apostle in the neighborhood.
You are an apostle in the family.
You are an apostle in church.
You are an apostle among your friends.
So we are apostles and disciples.
Vs. 30 – As we said, the Apostles had been sent out in preaching pairs. Now they have returned. And they reported to their Master. They reported what they had done and what they had taught.
When you have a Master, you are accountable. You must report in. We will all make a final report to the Lord Jesus.
Romans 14:12 - So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Do you want to have a good final report when you stand before your Master?
Then do what the Apostles did. They reported when they came into their Master’s presence.
Because Jesus was in a human body at that point in time, it was possible not to be in Jesus’ presence as a disciple.
However, through the Spirit of God, Jesus is present with us all the time. That means we can report in all the time.
When the disciples reported in they were subjecting their words and their deeds to Jesus’ approval or disapproval.
They could have commended and encouraged, but they also could have been rebuked and corrected.
I have been encouraged to start reporting in each day, either in the morning or the evening. When I review my day with the Lord, and tell him what I’ve said and what I’ve done, he can correct me and encourage me. I can confess my sins and ask for His help.
It really doesn’t matter if my words or my deeds please you. What matters is that they please Him. So I should subject them to His approval!
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
COUNSEL – REST WHEN NECESSARY – Vs. 31
Vs. 31 – There is a barrage of activity and noise around us.
Every one of us seems to have a very busy schedule whether we are in school, working or retired. There is a never ending stream of business.
And there is a never ending stream of noise.
Henn Nouwen - “Few of us can fully appreciate the terrible conspiracy of noise there is about us, noise that denies us the silence and solitude we need for this cultivation of the inner garden. It would not be hard to believe that the archenemy of God has conspired to surround us at every conceivable point in our lives with the interfering noises of civilization that, when left unmuffled, usually drown out the voice of God. He who walks with God will tell you plainly, God does not ordinarily shout to make Himself heard. As Elijah discovered, God tends to whisper in the garden.[1]
Jesus said to the disciples who were inundated with business and noise, “Come apart and rest awhile.” Morgan, R. J. 2000. Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
Remember that Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace and rest are found in the Lord Jesus, so we need to come apart and rest! I think of three basic times when we need to come apart and rest in the Lord Jesus.
· First we need to come apart and rest when we feel overwhelmed. When we find ourselves so busy that we don’t have time to even eat or drink properly, it’s time to rest physically. It’s also time to rest spiritually.
If I’m so busy that I don’t have time for the things of God, then I am too busy!
Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
· Second we need to come apart and rest on a weekly basis.
The Sunday School hour, the Morning Worship Service, the Evening Service on Sunday are all times for you to “come apart and rest awhile”. Your rest is found in worship, in prayer, in learning as a disciple, in having your Spiritual batteries recharged. If you will let them, all three of these services will help give you the Spiritual rest that you need.
· Third, we need to come apart and rest awhile on a daily basis. We need to hear Jesus’ voice of comfort and correction every day. I suggest that you set aside at least a half hour and better yet an hour for time of Spiritual rest. Is Jesus worth 1/48th of your day? That’s a half hour. Is Jesus worth 1/24th of your day? That’s an hour.
What should you do in these times of Spiritual refreshment? I suggest you read a chapter in the New Testament, and, a chapter in Psalms or Proverbs. After that you may want to branch out to other Old Testament books.
Then I suggest a time of prayer. Worship God and bring your requests before Him. You could use the Lord’s Prayer as your pattern. And you could pray the prayer of Jabez.
1 Chronicles 4:10 - And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
So, “come apart and rest awhile” when overwhelmed, weekly, and daily.
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
COUNSEL – REST WHEN NECESSARY – Vs. 31
COMPASSION – REALIZE THE NEED – Vss. 32-34A
Vss. 32-33 – So they went away privately, but to no
avail. It was like living in a small town.
Everybody knows your business!
As they sailed across the lake about four miles, the crowd went around the lake about ten miles and gathered people from the villages they went through. So, when Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, there was an enormous crowd.
What about the needed rest? I think that there might have been a headwind which made progress slow. I believe that’s how the people could get around the lake to meet Him. Those few hours in the boat, I feel, were therapeutic for the Lord and the disciples.
Vs. 34a – When Jesus saw the great crowd, he was not moved with anger as you might think. That’s how we’d probably react. “Why we can’t get even few days of peace!”
Jesus was moved with compassion.
Jesus saw people!
He saw hurting people.
He saw spiritually hungry people.
He saw spiritually dead people.
He saw sick people.
We would have seen the interruption. Jesus saw the need!
He was moved with compassion towards them.
He cared about their physical and spiritual wellbeing.
He saw them as sheep without a shepherd.
Sheep need someone to lead them, to guide them to feed and water them, to protect them.
John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Jesus is the good shepherd who has compassion on the sheep.
As his disciples, we need to open our eyes and see the needs around us. We need to have compassion as our Lord has compassion.
· Do you know someone who does not know Christ as Savior? That person is facing eternity in hell! Have compassion on them.
Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
· Do you know a Christian who is bondage to sin? Have compassion on them.
· Do you know a person going through a painful divorce? Have compassion on them.
· Do you know a person suffering emotionally? Have compassion on them.
· Do you know a person suffering physically? Have compassion on them.
· Do you know a person who is suffering loss? Have compassion on them.
Any time you see a person acting like a sheep without a shepherd; it is time to have compassion!
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
COUNSEL – REST WHEN NECESSARY – Vs. 31
COMPASSION – REALIZE THE NEED – Vss. 32-34A
CONDUCT – RESPOND TO THE NEED – Vs. 34B
Vs. 34b – Action should always follow compassion.
Jesus responded to the need by teaching them many things.
He taught them at length.
What should we do when we start to have compassion on those who are in need?
We should teach them!
And right away, some of you will say, “I can’t do that.”
You can do that if you allow Jesus to empower you!
· We can teach them by showing that we care about them.
· We can teach them by living a life of trust ourselves.
· We can teach them by listening attentively to them.
· We can teach them by sharing our own hurts and how God has gotten us through them.
· We can teach them by sharing our own personal testimony.
· We can teach them by showing them the plan of salvation.
· We can teach them by sharing what God has to say in his word.
You will be equipped to teach when you,
REPORT TO GOD DAILY
REST IN GOD DAILY, WEEKLY, AND WHEN OVERWHELMED.
REALIZE THE NEED
We need to take our time outs daily.
The more we are in the habit of taking time outs, the more equipped we will be to help a hurting world.
COMMUNICATION – REPORT TO THE LORD
COUNSEL – REST WHEN NECESSARY – Vs. 31
COMPASSION – REALIZE THE NEED – Vss. 32-34A
CONDUCT – RESPOND TO THE NEED – Vs. 34B