Mark 6:30-32: Apostles Resting

The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

In Mark this is the only time the term “apostles” are used.  Usually Mark uses the term “disciples”.  The other gospels, especially Luke, and Acts use the term “apostle” exclusively for the twelve that Jesus chose and sent out.  However, the early church used the term “apostle” more broadly to be any officially chosen person who was sent by Jesus to deliver a message.  The term “apostle” literally means “sent one” and was sometimes used for official messengers who had a particular message to give to a group of people.  The twelve whom Jesus had sent all came back and reported to Jesus.  After Jesus had heard of their work, in obedience to the instructions that he gave in Mark 6:7-13, then he determined that it was time for them to rest from their labor.  The ministry was still surrounding them, requiring their attention, but they left it to have a time of rest.

There are a number of recommendations that ministry leaders rest.  There are retreats to help leaders rest and places of rest.  Many ministries have budgets to allow their leaders to rest.  However, many leaders don't get the rest they need.  Partly because the ministry never ends. There is no clear time to take a rest.  Certainly, as we will see, Jesus and the disciples didn't get the rest they needed because the ministry followed them.

But it is just as likely that leaders don't see rest as necessary.  That their presence is more important than their absence.  Not only do we have Jesus' example to show us how necessary rest is, but we have the Father's.  Think about it: If the Lord of heaven and earth, the omnipotent One, the God of gods decides that he needs to take a day off after six days of work, then we should follow that pattern as well.  We don't want to make ourselves out to be better than God, do we?