Having Compassion

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

HAVING COMPASSION

Mark 6:30-34

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 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."  32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

NIV

We are back to the narrative directly from before this side note about Herod and John the Baptist, when Jesus had sent the twelve out to all the towns with authority to cast out demons, heal people, and teach the good news. They have returned although Mark does not tell us what Jesus was doing in the meantime, they report all they had done and taught. If only all the people would be so anxious today to gather around to hear the words of Jesus as they were then. It would truly be something to behold. The crowd was so demanding or in need to be either healed or taught the truth about the kingdom of God, Jesus and his twelve did not even have time to eat. There is something about ministry that seems to take precedence over all else. Should we not have that same passion for meeting the needs of people, at least their spiritual needs? Although there were several times that Jesus also met their physical needs. This was not just the need to be healed, but to eat, as when he fed the five thousand. Nevertheless. Jesus also knows the need for those who minister to find some rest, so as to be refreshed. This is not in that sense of finding rest for their souls, although that too may occur when they rest to eat, to repose, and reflect in the past days of ministry. However, this was not to happen just yet as the people saw them leave in the boat. We suppose it would not be hard to recognize thirteen guys in a boat, although maybe they took several boats, as we are not told exactly. However, in the Greek, it says they departed by ship, so that could mean a single ship, boat, or several. Nevertheless, thirteen guys headed across the lake would be understood as Jesus and his disciples, so the crowd ran along the shoreline, actually arriving ahead of the boat. No rest, today, as when Jesus saw them and knew they had needs, he had compassion on them, for they were as sheep without a shepherd and he began to teach. It is interesting how the writers of Star Teck got it right with the words of Spock when he said “The needs of the many outweigh the need of the one”. Here Jesus shows us that very same concept. Although he wanted for himself and his disciples to have some alone time, it was not to be, for the needs of the many were at hand. Let us be aware there are times when we need to find rest, for both our souls and body. But there are times when the needs of others must come first. Let us hear that voice of the Spirit so we can discern when which is to be done. It’s one thing to just be busy about doing things, but it is entirely a different thing, being sensitive to the needs of the many through having compassion.