LIFE OF CHRIST
Mark 6:30-34 -
PAGE 1
TIME OUT!, AM 2/12/06
LIFE OF CHRIST #27
After Jairus’ daughter was healed, Jesus evidently
made a second visit to his hometown of
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
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
Note the words, and
learn of me. These are key words. We
need to learn from our Master. John 12:266,
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
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,
Romans 10:13-15
Think of yourself as an apostle. One sent with the good news of the Lord Jesus
Christ and what He’s done for you.
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, 1 Corinthians 4:5
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.
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!
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.
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.
·
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.
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, John 10:27-28
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.
Any time you see a person acting like a sheep without
a shepherd; it is time to have compassion!
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.
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
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