30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 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. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Mark 6:30-32, NRSV
For all the demands on his time, for all the requests for his power, for all the weight of the world on his holy shoulders, Jesus knew the importance of setting aside time and space to recharge. He made a priority of self-care. What’s more… he wanted his disciples to make that a priority, too.
Earlier in this same chapter, Jesus has sent his disciples out into the world on a mission trip of sorts. Two by two. The buddy system. He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom, to cast out demons, to heal the sick. While we don’t have accounts of their individual missionary journeys, of one thing we can be sure: when they returned to Jesus, they must’ve been exhausted. Proclaiming and casting out and healing — that’s hard work! So Jesus tells them: “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while” (Mark 6:31, NRSV). Take care of yourselves, Jesus is telling them. Well done. Now, take care of yourselves.
His words echo to us, to modern-day disciples, to people-blessing-people who may be worn down by the work of blessing and the realities of a pandemic. Come away, Jesus says to us, and rest awhile. Take care of yourselves. It’s always an essential part of our lives as disciples… but all the more so in this singular season of coronavirus. We must take care of ourselves.
I’m a fan (I’ve mentioned before) of Lin-Manuel Miranda and his “good morning, good night” tweets. One pair speaks to this particular priority. Miranda writes:
Gmorning!Yikes, I almost attempted the gmorning without coffee and a shower.
Take CARE of yourself before leaping into he world.
Take ARE!
Love you! Gnight!
Almost went to bed while reading the news.
Give yourself a minute before you fall asleep;
get your mind right!
Love you! Take care of yourself, church, before leaping into the world.
Take care of yourself, church, before you fall asleep.
Take care of yourself, church,
because it’s the only way to do this “people blessing people” thing long-term.
Take care of yourself, church. Love you.
Take care, and remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
Want to know more?
- Learn about our church and its ministries: https://wesleychurch.com/
- Make a gift to support our mission: https://wesleychurch.com/giving-2/
- View our recent messages: https://wesleychurch.com/sermon-message-on-video/
- View previous devotionals: https://wesleychurch.com/pastor-candys-devotionals-2/
