INTERRUPTIONS

“Then, because there were so many people coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’

“So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place…. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:31-34 (NIV).

How did Jesus handle interruptions? Certainly not the way we might have done. Our first thought would have been for ourselves. We might have been irritated by all these people and would have wanted to escape to carry out our original plan. All we would have wanted to do was to get away from the crowd to rest and have time out with Jesus.

Not Jesus! He tried to get away from the crowds, but they beat Him to it. Why didn’t He simply go somewhere else – somewhere they didn’t anticipate? He didn’t try to dodge them. Instead, He welcomed them with a heart of compassion. They had no meaning and no direction in their lives and no-one to lead them. Jesus’ heart was for them, not for Himself. He put their needs above His own.

Is this what He meant when He said that a disciple is someone who denies himself? Self-denial is not just going without to adhere to some sort of rule. I think it means that we choose to put the needs of others above our own, and here is a good example of self-denial from the Master Himself.

I wonder what the disciples felt about this interruption. They were probably looking forward to a day alone with Jesus, relaxing out in the open and enjoying being away from the crowd. They must have felt frustrated, irritated, and even fed-up with Jesus. Why did He have to be so accommodating?

What was the difference between Jesus and His disciples? Their first thought was for themselves and their own needs. They were tired. They needed rest. They wanted to be alone. Jesus was also tired, but He saw people who needed another kind of rest much more that He needed a day off. These people were struggling under the heavy yoke of legalism, and it wasn’t working. They didn’t need more religion. They needed a shepherd to protect and take care of them. That is exactly what He came to do – and He was not about to miss an opportunity like this.

If we are true to our calling to be followers of Jesus, here is an example of real self-denial. Jesus did not just pretend to be nice to the crowd. He had plans for the day, but He changed direction without giving Himself another thought because the people were more important to Him than His own plans or comfort. Their needs were greater than His own.

And He calls us to follow Him.