The Disciples Return from Their Mission Trip
Scripture: Mark 6:30-33; John 6:1-2
In lesson H290 the disciples leave Jesus and go in pairs to various villages and towns to share the message that Jesus has been sharing and heal the sick and cast out unclean spirits. While they were out doing the work of ministry, we visited Herod, in lesson H291, to learn that he had heard about the fame of Jesus and all that had been happening. He had also heard about what the people were saying and believing about him. We looked at three of their beliefs about who they thought he was. We ended that lesson with Herod deciding that Jesus must be the resurrected John the Baptist, who he had given orders to be killed.
With this lesson we begin a new section and find that the disciples (also known as apostles) have Mk 6:30 “returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
That must have been an exciting time for Jesus and the disciples to share all that they had experienced, but they must have been tired from traveling. Jesus listens to them for a while and then suggests that they go to a desolate place and rest for a time. Surely, they would not find rest while being with Jesus because many were coming and going, making it difficult to even prepare their meals and eat.
Some time seems to elapse between Mark 6:30 – 31 and Mark 6:32 because “yourselves” is now replaced with “themselves.” Mk 6:32 “And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves, Jn 6:1 to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.” It appears that for a while the disciples were away resting, but then it was time for they and Jesus to move on. Their intent was to cross the Sea of Galilee and go to a desolate place to be alone, but Jn 6:2 “a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Mk 6:33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.”
In John 6:2, we are looking back in time and see why large crowds are following Jesus. We know from our studies that it was because people saw him perform miracles and teach with authority. It would be wrong to conclude that a large crowd followed them across the sea. There were probably a few who had access to a boat and may have followed. It is also likely that some had anticipated that Jesus and the disciples were going to cross over and went ahead to notify those on the other side that they were coming and to be on the lookout. As Jesus and the disciples neared the other side, many saw them and recognized them and spread the news that Jesus was arriving. Without our present day social media, word spread quickly and soon a large crowd of several thousand from surrounding towns had arrived.
Forget having some quiet time in a desolate place with thousands gathering in around you. What does Jesus feel and do as he arrives and sees the gathering crowd? We will look at that in our next lesson.
Conclusion
The disciples mission trip seemed to be successful and now Jesus and the disciples are back together. They make plans to cross the Sea of Galilee, to get away from the crowds for a while, but news spread quickly, even in those days without our social media, and Jesus and his disciples arrive to face a growing crowd. Imagine the patience and endurance that Jesus needed to live like this day after day.
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