Mark 6:30 Those who had been sent out rejoined Yeshua and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 There were so many people coming and going that they couldn’t even take time to eat, so he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a place where we can be alone, and you can get some rest.” 32 They went off by themselves to an isolated spot; 33 but many people, seeing them leave and recognizing them, ran ahead on foot from all the towns and got there first. 34 When Yeshua came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. Filled with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, he began teaching them many things., 53 After they had made the crossing, they landed at Ginosar and anchored. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized him 55 and began running around throughout that whole region and bringing sick people on their stretchers to any place where they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, in towns, cities or country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the tzitzit on his robe, and all who touched it were healed. (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Today we think about God's gift of "REST."
I can just hear the apostles telling Jesus about their ministry and all the things they had been doing. It must have been like when I would babble on about everything I was doing and what I said and who I met and it was all about ME, and my mom would interrupt me and say, "Margaret ANN! Give it a rest!" Now I'm not saying Jesus' followers were being cocky, or even trying to outdo each other, but I think we all need to find time to stop "DOING" and just listen to God's teaching, guidance and words of wisdom for us. We all need time to just "BE" and REST in God's presence. I once lost power for three days in the country. No TV, so I could clean, read or reflect on where God was leading me. It's amazing the clarity and renewal I found in resting and listening to God.
God of peace, you know us better than we know ourselves. Help us to find the rest we need to fill our cups to overflowing with your love. Amen.
Meg Sander, '83
Transitional Pastor, Immanuel Zion Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Church, Albion, Nebraska
Mark 6:Feeding the Five Thousand
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things., Healing the Sick in Gennesaret53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. (New Revised Standard Version).
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