Jesus as leader

Mark 6:30-34New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 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. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 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.

I love this passage.  Love it enough that I chose it for today even though it is technically a passage from this past Saturday. But I don't usually write on the weekends, so I'm giving myself a pass!

What I love about it are the signs of Jesus as a leader that come out of it.  First, I love the first few lines where Jesus is telling the disciples "come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." As near as I can tell, from my limited memory and from a quick perusal on Bible Gateway, Mark is the only Gospel writer who has Jesus telling his disciples to rest. This passage takes place after the disciples have all gone out two by two (actually, here they are apostles because they have been "sent").  It's their first big mission, and they are on their own in pairs.  Without their leader.  It's early in Jesus' ministry, but out he sends them - while he stays back and waits.

I can imagine their excitement when they return to tell him all they've accomplished!

For we who live in a day and age when it seems like busy-ness is the sign of corporate (and often personal!) success and where perfection is lifted up as the goal, Jesus sending his novices out and then telling them to rest when they are done is refreshing!  How many bosses or teachers or leaders are in your life that tell you to rest at the end of a big project or event? 

We know from the other gospels that Jesus models rest - or sabbath - to the disciples.  He often will himself go off to pray. But I love that Mark has him sharing that habit with the disciples. He sends them off to their own sabbath time and - presumably refreshed himself from his time while they were gone - he begins to teach the crowds who press ever in.

What is remarkable to me is that it is Mark - the most movement and action oriented of all the Gospel writers - who shows this side of Jesus.  Not just modeling sabbath. But giving the gift of sabbath to his followers.

So Jesus as a leader trusts his new disciples with a big task. He knows it might not be perfectly done. But he gives them a chance and we see here how their confidence is established.

And then he tells them to rest, while he, rested himself, returns to work.

Jesus, remind us that busy-ness is not the same as success, and that you have called us to rest and be refreshed so we can serve you faithfully.  Amen.