30The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest awhile.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. 56And wherever he came, in villages, city, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
In our frenetic, hectic world, do we ever feel fragmented as though everyone we meet wants a piece of us? Do we ever feel that if we can just get through the day or the week that things will slow down, return to normal, and we’ll have some peace?
This scripture tells us that Jesus recommended a rest for His busy disciples, and yet, when that rest couldn’t come because the crowds caught up with them, Jesus set an example by having compassion on the crowd.
This First Thoughts devotional is being written in the midst of the hectic week of VBS. These verses practically jumped out of the Bible at me. I’m quite sure that all our VBS volunteers are feeling tired and worn by now, and yet, they look with love and compassion at all the attendees and are energized, because through this experience they sense the Spirit giving them the energy they need to teach and serve.
One volunteer even confided that teaching is out of her comfort zone, and yet she feels she is being given what she needs to do her job. What a thrilling experience this must have been for the disciples! What an exhilarating, if tiring, experience it is for our VBS volunteers!
In each of our own busy lives as we wait expectantly for our lives to slow down, let us look to Jesus and never forget our compassion.
