Jesus’ Rhythm of Life
Jesus was masterful in the way that he managed his time with others and his time alone. He often took time for rest, for fellowship with friends, as well as also having time alone with his Father. We don't see this pattern by just reading one gospel account, but if you watch through all of the gospel records, the pattern emerges. He also took time to grieve.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us of the death of John the Baptist. When Jesus learned of John's death, he withdrew to a desolate place by himself. Grief is a powerful and necessary experience. Sometimes we need others around us in our grief, and sometimes we need to be alone. Jesus needed to be alone, away from the demands and needs of others, to feel and process his grief and undoubtably to cry out to his Father.
About the same time as Jesus had learned of the death of the Baptist, the disciples returned from their two-by-two missions’ trip. They had traveled from village to village sharing the good news of Jesus and performing miracles in Jesus’ name. They got a taste of the vast human needs that exist in the world around them. No doubt Jesus wanted them to see for themselves how lost and wounded his creation had become, and so he sent them out alone. And when they returned to share their stories, Jesus saw their need and told them they needed to find a place away from the crowds to rest. If the son of God needs time alone, then certainly his followers do as well.
But you can't be alone for long before the needs of others emerge again. The crowds had intruded into the desolate retreat space where Jesus and his followers were resting, and it was dinner time. It's fascinating to consider how Jesus was mentoring his disciples. There were likely eight to ten thousand hungry people. Jesus had the power to feed them, but before he did he engaged his disciples to participate. "You give them food," he said. That had to create more than a little anxiety for the disciples. They knew they had no resources to feed that many, but Jesus kept them participating. "Have them sit in groups of 50." Now, Jesus takes one boy's lunch and prays to his Father and provides enough for everyone to have their needs met. I think Jesus was not just performing a miracle of a free meal for the crowd; he was planting a seed in his disciples that one day when he was gone it would be their Kingdom work to feed and provide for those in need as his hands and his feet.
Ministry time is over and Jesus again retreats for rest and prayer.
Grieve, rest, pray, serve others, rest, pray, repeat. There was a rhythm to Jesus’ life. To be effective we must discover the same rhythm.
Your Time with God’s Word
Mark 6:30-31; Matthew 14:12-13, 21-23, 25-31; Luke 9:13-14, 16-17 ESV
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