Monday, January 16, 2017

Jesus Offers Rest


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“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.”
Mark 6:30-31(NIV)

            Jesus and his disciples always drew a crowd. Everyone wanted to see Jesus. In each instant, the throng could have overwhelmed most people.

            I know a lot of people who have issues being in crowds. Some people are comfortable with having large gatherings for the various holiday celebrations. Others prefer to observe those times in peace and quiet. The disciples were bombarded by such an influx of people, they could not take the time to eat, let alone rest.

            I remember when my uncle had passed away, we all gathered at my mother’s home. My uncle’s ex-wife, the mother of his children had been included in the group. As she prepared to leave, I asked her, “You’re not leaving so soon, are you?” She said something that comes to my mind often, “I want to be alone and think for a while.” We all have times where it is better for us to be alone and to rest from what life throws at us.

            Jesus invited the disciples to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” From time to time he makes the same appeal to us.



4 comments:

  1. I agree. I think society as a whole would benefit from rest and quiet times. It's hard to truly find peace and to recharge otherwise. I'm reading a book entitled Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf; it discusses the importance of rest and being still before God, among other things. We weren't created to live and thrive with such a restless mindset and lifestyle as is the norm today. Thanks for sharing, Cecelia. Have a good rest of the week! :)

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    1. Karen: Thank you for your comments. You are so right. "We weren't created to live and thrive with such a restless mindset and lifestyle as is the norm today." When we are young we don't realize this. We believe we are indestructible.

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  2. Good points, dear. I've noticed the older I get, the more time I need to "just be alone and think."

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    Replies
    1. Jeanette: This is so true of my life. It takes me longer to do things. We do have to stop and rest in order to keep doing things.

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