Reflections - Jesus Rested, and we should too.
Jesus napped. And we should, too.
Really - it's true! Jesus was repetitive about a lot of things like taking care of the poor, loving the outcasts, loving God and our neighbors.
Also, Jesus was pretty good about taking care of himself and knowing when he needed to go off in to the desert to pray and get some rest. Jesus, throughout the Gospels, sets a pretty good example for self-care.
This week, in the Gospel lesson from Mark, we read about Jesus making sure the disciples have time to rest as well. The disciples have reunited with Jesus and are excited to be with him again. Previously, Jesus had sent the disciples out in pairs to teach about God's love and heal people who were sick. Earlier in the sixth chapter of Mark (verses 1-6), Jesus tells them that on their journey they are to take no extra food, clothes, or money. They were told to stay where they were welcomed and leave the places where they were not.verses
So now in this week's passage they were returning to Jesus and were filled with stories about what they had done.
The scripture says they were in a really busy place and they couldn't even eat together there.
Jesus suggests, "Lets go to a quieter place where you can rest." Jesus and the twelve got into the boat and started off.
But the people saw where they were headed and hurried off ahead to meet them there. When they dock the boat, there is a large crowd gathered waiting for them.
If it were me, when I saw all the people gathered there waiting I would have been super annoyed. Think - "can't I get away for a while without being bothered? " But Jesus looks at the people and is filled with compassion. He felt the suffering that they were feeling. So, he sat down and taught the people many things about God. According to Mark, this happens again and again on both sides of the Sea of Galilee. In the later versus of this reading, they went by boat to Gennesaret and people were bringing other people to just to be healed. I am pretty sure that Jesus maybe wouldn't have reacted this way if he was tired and still wearing his cranky pants.
No matter where Jesus went - people found him. That is exactly why Jesus continually, throughout his ministry, takes time to rest. He goes off into the desert to pray. He disappears to the gardens to talk with God, rest and recalculate.
He could go to the cities, villages, and way out in the country and people followed him asking to be healed. Jesus healed everyone who touched him, the Bibles says. And I imagine that was a lot of people. Jesus knew that resting was needed from time to time so he could continue to teach and heal with love and compassion.
When we are feeling way too busy and overwhelmed - that's exactly when we need to take some time to rest. The busy schedule, people demanding your time, and all the things you are worried about will still be there after you take a time out. Let's be like Jesus and rest when we need it.
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