Festivals, cottages, boats, and campsites are talked about a lot at this time of year. For many of us summer is a chance to unplug and unwind. Others of us feel extremely busy and even overwhelmed by the circumstances of our lives right now.
Whether you are preparing for vacation and enjoying your weekends, or you aren’t sure how you can take another step, Jesus invitation to his disciples in Mark 6:31 is one that is good for all of us to hear.
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
For those who are readying for (or are already on) a break, this invitation is a reminder to stick with Jesus during your time of quiet and rest. Jesus doesn’t send his disciples away. He invites them into a place of rest alongside him. While you rest this summer take a little extra time to contemplate the gifts of God, to read the story of Jesus, and to just sit quietly and reflect on his love for you. Come with Jesus into your rest.
For those who are overwhelmed . . . consider the context of this invitation. In the verses before this Jesus’ friend and cousin, John, has been killed; his disciples are coming back from work he’d commissioned them to and are full of excitement and stories; and “so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat.” Full of grief, energy, distractions, and demands on their time and attention, the disciples and Jesus didn’t have time to get away. But it is precisely because they were so busy they needed to get away.
Reading on in the story, their time away wasn’t a long one. People followed them and placed more demands on them. But they still sought rest and had it, however brief, and it was essential to prepare them for what was to come. I know that it can seem impossible to get away from all that must be done, but it is essential to take that time away with Jesus if you are going to get by. There will always be something more to do. There will always be another thing come up. It may only be for a quiet minute or two a couple of times per day, but you’ll be better equipped to face it if you accept Jesus’ invitation.
Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.