When the disciples heard that Herod had put John the Baptist to death, they came, picked up his body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. He said to them, “Come apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” – (Mark 6:31)
Grief, and anger at injustice, drain us of energy and purpose. As the disciples headed out with Jesus to rest, it wasn’t long before the multitudes found them, and their planned reprieve was robbed … or was it? It was here the disciples witnessed Jesus’ tender compassion on the crowds as the “Good Shepherd”. It was here they marveled in the precious faith of a little boy who offered his lunch to Jesus. It was here they participated in the miraculous distribution of those five buns and 2 small fish, by feeding over 5000 men, women, and children, with 12 baskets left over.
This time apart with Jesus was the “rest” their souls needed and the same is true for us today. It’s not a spa we need when our hearts are grieved at evil and injustice, it’s to see the compassion and power of Jesus at work - and to share in it. It’s God’s way of bruising the enemy under our feet and overcoming evil with Good.
Is your heart heavy? Come, behold the goodness of the Lord, know that He is God, and evil will not win.
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