The following is to be preached to the poor at an outreach in West Philadelphia on October 15, 2010.
In Mark chapter 6, we find Jesus sending out the apostles. He sends them out to preach to the multitudes about repentance from sin. This they do, and in v. 30 we find them returning to Jesus and reporting to him everything that they had said and done.
6:31 – And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate [ἔρημος: desert, wilderness] place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Jesus and the disciples get into a boat and leave for the wilderness place by themselves.
6:33-34 – Now many saw [Jesus and the disciples] going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd….
At this point, what would we expect of a human leader? In normal circumstances, what would we expect? What would we expect of one who was so busy with something that he didn’t even have time to stop for a meal break?
It would be natural for us to expect irritation, or frustration. One may expect that Jesus would send these people away so He and His disciples could get some rest. Isn’t that what they were going to the desolate place for anyway?
However, Jesus is no mere human leader. He is fully human, like we are. But He is also fully God.
What does the Scripture say about Jesus’ reaction?
6:34 – When [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion [σπλαγχνιζομαι: to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (figuratively) feel sympathy: have (be moved with) compassion][1] on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
As God, Jesus is filled with compassion and love for needy people.
When we come to Christ with our needs and cares, He is never too busy or bothered that He would ignore us or send us away. Like a loving father, He feels sympathy and pity for those in need.
And He cares for us and nourishes us.
And He leads us to a place of rest, like a shepherd leads his flock.
6:34 - …they were like sheep without a shepherd.
In the book of the prophet Ezekiel, God promises the coming of a faithful shepherd, one who will establish a covenant of peace, and cause the people to “dwell securely in the wilderness” (34:25).[2]
Ezek. 34:15-16 - I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
Jesus is our Great Shepherd, the One who seeks the lost and brings them back; the One who strengthens the weak and brings justice and destruction to those who prey on and neglect them (Cf. Matt. 25:31-46).
Jesus is the second Moses, the One who leads His people in the wilderness and provides them with heavenly bread.
Jesus is the One, the only one, who can transform the desolate places of our hearts and lives into places of refreshment and life.[3]
Jesus is the One, the only one, who can give us rest.
Do you believe in this One?
Do you believe in the One who came to this earth and lived a life free from sin, who was punished in our place for our sins on the cross, dying the death that we deserved to die for our lawlessness and rebellion against a holy God?
It is in the forgiveness of sin that we find the rest of a new heart, the rest and comfort of a new Spirit within us.
The Lord through the prophet Ezekiel states:
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD (11:19-21).
We must repent of our sin, turning from the detestable things and the idols that we chase after in our lives and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone, to save us.
It is in receiving Christ, the Great Shepherd, that we find rest.
Ps. 23:1-3 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
Let us pray.
[1] Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, Version 1.4, Accordance Bible Software 8.4.7 (Oak Tree Software, Inc., 2010).
[2] William L. Lane, The Gospel According to Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. by Ned B. Stonehouse, F. F. Bruce, and Gordon D. Fee (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974), 226.
[3] Lane, 229. Cf. Mark 6:39-44.
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