Mark 6:31, commentary and pictures

After their first missionary tour the disciples gathered to Jesus to tell Him all they had done and taught, with joy over results shadowed by sorrow over the death of John the Baptist, while constant crowds seeking healing and teaching left no privacy and no leisure even to eat. With pitying tenderness He invited His worn workers to come apart by themselves into a lonely quiet place near Bethsaida and rest a while, recognizing that wholehearted labor had exhausted their strength and that human strength has limits. That rest was duty and not neglect or indolence, for God does not require relentless sacrifice without mercy, yet the invitation is for self-forgetful workers spent to the extent of their ability and is no excuse for idleness or sparing oneself from service. The hoped-for rest was interrupted when the multitude followed by land and water, and moved as the good Shepherd by love and pity He put their needs before His own desire for repose, healing and teaching them through the day until evening. The call to come apart brings quiet communion with God that gives true rest and strength, corrects error, guards against pride and self-sufficiency, and prepares for service, so workers today must still stop to rest and recover lest ceaseless strain overtax mind and body and mar the work.

Setting and Circumstances

The call came just after the disciples returned from their first missionary tour, when they gathered around Jesus and told Him all they had done and taught. They laid before Him in close fellowship their successes and failures, their favorable and unfavorable experiences, their faults, weaknesses and errors in their first work as evangelists. Their joy over results as heralds of the gospel was followed by bitter sorrow and disappointment at the news that Herod had put John the Baptist to death, which severely tested their faith. Jesus shared their grief with pitying tenderness, even with tears in His eyes and voice, and saw that they needed both rest and further instruction.

Where they then were there was no privacy, because many were constantly coming and going and they had no leisure so much as to eat. The crowds pressed with steady demands, coming to hear and see Jesus, seeking healing and teaching, and the work left the workers weary and with no time even to eat. Jesus recognized that this ceaseless activity had exhausted them and proposed withdrawing with them for a short rest apart from the crowds.

The desert place they sought was a lonely, quiet region near Bethsaida at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. It was beautiful with the fresh green of spring, reached by entering a boat to cross the lake from Capernaum, beyond the sea to a suitable place for seclusion. There, apart from the confusion of the multitude and the retorts and accusations of the Pharisees, they hoped for solitude, a little season of repose for Himself and for their benefit, and a short season of fellowship with their Lord. Their plan was to rest, to listen to His words, and to talk about the work of the gospel away from the crowds.

The crowd was thronging after Christ as the fountain of all blessings, anxious to be healed and eager to hear His words. Many who came then for health accepted Him as Saviour, while many others who were then afraid to confess Him because of the Pharisees were later converted at the descent of the Holy Spirit and acknowledged Him as the Son of God before the angry priests and rulers.

The invitation belongs to a demanding day of ministry in which both the crowd and Jesus had gone without food, and the disciples were concerned about the people's needs lest they go home unrefreshed. After Jesus fed them on the barren shore, the people returned the next morning, and large numbers arrived by land and water.

Tender Invitation to Rest

With pitying tenderness and compassion He invited His worn, toil-worn disciples to come apart by themselves into a desert place and rest a while after strenuous labor on their first missionary tour. Their joy over the success of the work had been followed by bitter sorrow over the death of John the Baptist, which tested their faith, and He shared their grief in offering them a quiet season apart with Him. Where they were there was no leisure so much as to eat because of the constant coming and going of the crowds, and His compassion for their weariness made the brief rest with Him precious to them. They crossed the lake hoping for solitude and fellowship with Him away from the crowds and the Pharisees, to talk over the work of the gospel and how to make it more effective.

He saw that their wholehearted labor for the people had exhausted their physical and mental strength, leaving them weary and too busy even to eat. They had gathered to Him and told Him all they had done and taught, laying before Him their successes and failures, faults, weaknesses and errors, and their closeness to Him enabled this frank sharing. He recognized the limits of human strength and that they needed both rest and further instruction, so those who have worked to their limits should ease their efforts that their powers may recover and they may serve more effectively. The worn condition of the workers calls for practical arrangements so that God's servants can withdraw and recover strength.

The words were spoken by the Creator, who knew they would continue to comfort and help His followers when He was no longer physically with them. The great harvest and the shortage of workers do not call for ceaseless toil, for He still calls workers today to receive rest. Resting is not wasted time but brings refreshment and renewed strength for better work. Rest was their duty and not neglect, indolence, or failure of service, for God does not require relentless sacrifice without mercy and service does not require ceaseless toil.

The invitation is for self-forgetful workers who have used spiritual and physical strength to the extent of their ability in earnest service and are distressed that they cannot do more, even going in their zeal beyond their strength. It is not an excuse for idleness or for sparing oneself from diligent service and one's share of responsibility. Even His own exhausted human nature cried for rest and sleep, as when after a day of ceaseless toil He lay fast asleep in a fisherman's boat with a coil of rope for a pillow. He sought a little season of repose for Himself as well as for their benefit, showing by His own need for sleep amid demanding service that acceptance of needed rest belongs with earnest giving of self to relieve suffering and bring hope.

Interrupted Rest and Compassion

The quiet they hoped for did not last even an hour, for people searching for Him saw Him depart and watched the slowly receding boat crossing from Capernaum toward the lonely region beyond the sea. Supposing His usual place of retirement near Bethsaida, they spread the news from city to city that He was crossing the water and flocked to the place where His boat was expected to land, while others followed over the water in boats. In this way the crowd found them and met them when they landed, so that Jesus and His disciples came ashore into the midst of a multitude pressing forward on all sides, and their intended solitude and fellowship were interrupted.

As the good Shepherd He felt only love and pity for restless, thirsting souls, and He put their needs before His own desire for repose. He ministered to them through the day until evening, healing the sick who sought healing and teaching those who needed spiritual help. When the waiting crowd needed help He gave up the rest He had sought and responded with compassion and aid, putting the people's spiritual need first.

The disciples urged withdrawal and rest after long labor, because each person seeking mercy seemed to have an urgent need yet the strain left no time even to eat. He Himself would not be drawn away from labor to rest with them but ministered all day to the throngs that came to Him and could not turn them away when they flocked to Him. Then at eventide or in the early morning He went away to the sanctuary of the mountains for communion with His Father, while He often released the disciples who worked with Him for a season to visit their homes and rest.

He cared for bodily weariness as well as spiritual need, noticing when the following multitude grew weary and hungry and some fainted and fell to the ground after following from place to place with no leisure even to eat. He had compassion on them and acted as their sanctuary and helper, calling them aside and providing a place for them to rest in a secluded place. He had them sit down comfortably on the grass in companies on a grassy plot, asked what food they had, took the five loaves and few small fishes, and with sympathy and thoughtful care gave simple food through the disciples until the five thousand besides women and children were satisfied.

On that occasion the disciples did not get to rest, for Jesus met the people's need and kept laboring for them until nearly faint with exhaustion. He was weary Himself when He crossed the sea, yet finding still more urgent needs He patiently continued to care for the sick and afflicted though repeatedly interrupted.

Communion Instruction and Renewal

The call to come apart gives workers a few hours alone with Christ in quiet, personal communion with God, stepping away from ceaseless labor to rest, to tell Him their needs, to listen for His will, to pray for those in need, and to sit with the divine Teacher. That communion brings true rest and help and strength, with peace and joy and grace, and it refreshes and strengthens mind and heart to resist temptation and prepares for further service and greater usefulness even amid demanding work. The disciples used that quiet place to report their work to Him and to talk together about the work of the gospel and how to make their labor more effective in reaching people. There He gave them further instruction for future work, corrected their errors, taught them how to approach unbelievers, opened to them the treasures of truth, and vitalized them by divine power so they were inspired with renewed hope and courage.

They needed much instruction and spiritual renewal because success after labor brings danger of pride and self-sufficiency, of becoming self-important, strong and full of self, wise in their own conceits, trusting human plans and methods, praying less and having less faith, losing sight of dependence on God, and making a saviour of constant activity. Withdrawal from conflict and the din of battle keeps workers from that self-exaltation and keeps them open to be led and taught and used by the Lord to His glory. Resting apart is the time to bury self and hide self in Christ so that Christ alone appears, enabling the humble, trusting believer to lift Jesus before the people while God does all things through him.

The quiet outdoor setting, away from the confusion of busy places, suited lessons of simplicity and faith and self-denial. Rest apart with Christ equips workers with the Holy Spirit to communicate what those in necessity need, as Christ Himself did, and teaches them to work in a way that brings God the greatest glory. Only work done with much prayer and meditation and study of the word, sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove efficient for good, for His power does the work while workers labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost. That time apart was not spent in self-indulgence or frivolous amusement but in discussing God's work and yielding the will to God for counsel and spiritual renewal.

Feeding the Five Thousand

What began as a withdrawal for rest amid relentless work continued into ministry to a tired, hungry multitude of five thousand men besides women and children. With only five loaves and a few small fishes at hand, Jesus had the people sit down on a grassy plot in companies, broke the food into small pieces, and gave it through His disciples until all had eaten enough. The supply multiplied again and again as it was handed out, with provision still remaining in His hands as He kept imparting it, and the disciples themselves also ate from what remained. Even that retirement became continued ministry, for crowds followed Him wherever He went, and He watched them closely as they grew weary and hungry and some fainted, acting as their sanctuary and helper and physician. In one account of the journey the people had been with Him three days with their food used up, and after all were satisfied He commanded that the fragments be gathered up so that nothing would be lost.

The wonder was like the provision of food for one hundred men in the time of Elisha, for divine power multiplied a small amount until it was sufficient. His followers are therefore to share with the needy what they receive from Him, bringing temporal and spiritual blessing, and what is offered and used faithfully can become enough to feed a multitude. His command to give the people food was backed by divine power, so lack of supply is no reason to withhold what is at hand. A small offering in Christ's hands can provide abundantly, so His people should give in faith and not be discouraged when what they have seems insufficient.

After miraculously satisfying hunger He taught economy and thrift by being careful that what remained should not be wasted, commanding that the fragments be gathered up. Twelve baskets were gathered on this occasion and seven on another occasion. Industry and economy are duties: to owe no one anything, to live within means, to labor faithfully for small wages as well as large, to be a faithful steward of strength by using it to keep the family above want and dependence, and to safeguard by frugality and thrift the interests of the work entrusted to those in charge of institutions, especially when trying circumstances compel close economy. No one has a right to waste, or to gain means by gambling or by robbing another through scheming, but must freely impart what God has given.

The providence of God had placed Him in the wilderness with the multitude that came without invitation and listened long, knowing they would feel hungry and faint and being one with them in their need of food, and with apparently no means at hand He depended on His heavenly Father for means to relieve the necessity. The place of need teaches dependence on God when brought into strait places, seeking wisdom from Him who has infinite resources and trusting Him to deliver and keep every soul, showing what Christ can do to provide and minister and teach and guide and calling for more faith in Him in every trial. The miracle belonged to His mission and expressed His love for humanity, and His meeting the bodily need for food shows He remains able to provide for the physical needs of His people. From the feeding practical lessons are to be drawn about preparing food simply and economically and following the Lord's methods in food work, within a ministry in which teaching and healing taxed body and soul yet showed careful attention to practical needs, even to saving the food that was left. His care for the weary and hungry means that people seeking the way of salvation are not to be neglected or sent away faint, tired, and discouraged, but Christians are to make thoughtful efforts to give them opportunity to hear the word of life and to remove obstacles that make coming to Him difficult.

Rest for Workers Today

Even amid urgent needs and ceaseless service human beings need time for rest, for the call to labor does not mean ceaseless toil or carrying every burden that can be borne without pause. He who could work miracles and had empowered workers to do so still directed worn disciples to withdraw to a quiet place and rest, recognizing their need and not placing every responsibility on a few. That compassionate call to withdraw and rest for a while preserves health and strength for effective service.

Resting is not wasted time but brings refreshment and renewed strength for better work, preserving strength for future duties and causing no loss. Workers worn by heavy cares and labor should turn aside from continual activity to a quiet place, especially when the press of work leaves no time even to eat, and then return invigorated with more clearness of thought, more strength of intellect, and better preparation to do the important work committed to them. Such relief includes recreation and relief from labor so that strength can be recovered and duties resumed better prepared. Rest is not selfish indulgence, and when mind is strained and body weakened temptation presses more fiercely, so the weary worker should care for strength and spend time with Jesus.

To stay always under strain and excitement neglects personal piety and overtaxes mind and soul and body, so while self-denial and sacrifice are required, reason must be used and the laws of health followed to preserve the life God has given. Overzeal must be guarded against lest Satan take advantage of human weakness and mar the work of God, for constant bustle of activity is not religion. With increased activity and success there is danger of trusting human plans and methods, praying less, having less faith, losing sight of dependence on God, and making a saviour of activity while building self-sufficiency and separation from God. Workers must therefore look constantly to Jesus because His power does the work, laboring earnestly for the salvation of the lost while also taking time for meditation and prayer and study of the word, since only work done with much prayer and sanctified by the merit of Christ will in the end prove efficient for good.

When mind is strained and body weakened temptation presses more fiercely, so the weary worker should care for strength, spend time with Jesus, and withdraw for a time to rest, pray, commune with God, and open the heart to the Holy Spirit before further action. That time apart provides space for communication with God, refreshing and strengthening mind and heart to resist temptation and making room to talk with God. It is the needed response when mind and soul are troubled and when a contentious spirit causes contention.

Provision should be made for God's servants to rest and recover strength, including a welcoming refuge where worn-out workers can receive care without anxiety about cost and a place for change without constant worry about expenses. Experienced workers who have borne the burdens should be relieved of taxing loads so they can be appreciated as educators, while younger workers take up the demanding work. Sanitarium workers with little or no time even to eat should be given a reasonable workload and freedom to rest after a day's labor so they can maintain strength and vitality and do their work well.

Those weary and restless from continual demands should stop labor and rest awhile to renew physical and spiritual strength, setting worry aside. That call applies to an ambitious person whose brain needs care, reminding that constant active service should give way to rest. Rest may come through a change to work with less responsibility, which can protect spiritual simplicity and keep leadership from endangering it. Those who do not love God wholeheartedly should withdraw from work for a time, or take up other work, until they breathe a purer atmosphere and their hearts are purified by obeying God's Word, and rest should be taken while still exerting a Christlike influence and dealing wisely with others.

When turmoil, discomfort, weariness, or restless nervousness leaves workers distracted or nearly despairing, Christ invites them to withdraw and rest rather than continue without pause or press on in the din of battle. When workers grow weary and full of care, worry, and self-pity, He calls them to step aside for rest, which keeps them in His care instead of worrying themselves out of it. Rest with shared responsibilities and stepping away from confusion can prevent overwork from harming oneself and others, while regular time for rest amid demanding work sustains endurance under heavy burdens.

Pressing on through exhaustion without rest can destroy workers who are then lost to the work, resting in the grave until the last trumpet calls the righteous to immortality. Self-denial and sacrifice have limits, for God does not require continual overwork that damages health or leaves a person unable to meet later duties; workers are not to labor beyond strength but to care for physical powers so they can serve again the next day. Rest is sleep and relief from strain that protects nerve and muscle, and going long without it wears the body toward paralysis and helplessness, so that carrying a heavy unavoidable burden with almost no opportunity for rest under terrible strain gives all the glory to God alone.

The call applies tenderly to a burdened person to step away from study, grief, and thoughts of mistreatment into calm fellowship with Jesus and trust in promises. It is a compassionate wish for a devoted caregiver to step away from duties and rest for a while, and fitting counsel when responsibilities and labor have left a person in need of rest. Zealous workers overwhelmed by burdens beyond what finite people can accomplish should not become overwhelmed but should do what they can calmly and well, let others carry responsibilities that are theirs, allow some work to wait, stop carrying loads only finite man can do, and let the Lord carry the burden while trusting Him to provide, guide the work, and care for family. That means trusting wholly in God, seeing Christ going before in every experience preparing the way, being of good courage about help and comfort for worker, wife, and little ones, holding fast with patience without worry and unbelief, and not expecting a perfect school at its planting on new soil, as with the burden of establishing the school at Berrien Springs, since planting and perfecting takes time and every inch gained must be held fast.