Rest for the weary
Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThe rythem of Christian life and a Shepherds compassion
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All work and no ____ makes Jack a ____
All work and no ____ makes Jack a ____
You may think the bible is about work, not works of salvation but works in general and no play. But it is important for us to know that if we don’t come apart we will fall apart. Today we are looking at rest, physical, spiritual and the compassion of the Shepherd.
Don’t be idle or slothful (Pro6:6-11, 1Tim5:13) - sounds like work
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. 9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”— 11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.
Then looking at what Paul said to Timothy
13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
Scriptures positive words about work and labor (Eph4:28; 1The4:11)
Scriptures positive words about work and labor (Eph4:28; 1The4:11)
28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
So work is for the benefit of others and it is a command, so work is good, but rest for the weary soul is needed too.
Jesus spoke of rest in our passage today (Mk6:30)
Jesus spoke of coming away to secluded place for rest (Mk6:31)
So I mentioned a couple of the verses for today so let’s look at the passage.
30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
MK6:30-31
What do you see, what sticks out to you, what do you notice?
I. Need for Rest
I. Need for Rest
Regardless of all the advances in what should be labor-saving technology, man seems to be working longer, faster, harder than ever. We would be wise when we apply what the Bible says about rest. (Mt11:28-30)
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
So we know those verses and it speaks to those who are weary, who need a rest, but what about other scriptures that are illustrated in the Bible regarding rest?
Sabbath rest illustrated (Gen2:1-3)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
God rested from creation, the work was done, creation was done, God not only rested but sanctified the 7th day.
Do you remember what sanctified means?
1 : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate. 2 : to free from sin : purify. 3a : to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to.
Sabbath rest commanded (Deu5:12-15)
12 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 ‘Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. 15 ‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
14 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 ‘You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
What is the command given (v.12)?
Who does this command apply to (v.14)?
We need to be careful here, this is written and commanded to Jews who were previously in slavery in Egypt who are about the enter the promised land.
Why is it given (v.15)?
Eventhough we are not Jews who were ever in slavery in Egypt, can we learn from this anything that can be applied to today?
As seen in the illustration and the command, clearly it is easy to deduce that God not only approved of a rest, but commanded it, and did on a regular basis.
Rest illustrations from O.T. some Jewish holidays
Feast of unleavened bread (Lev23:5-8)
This feast included 2 days of rest
The below had one day of rest commanded.
Feast of Harvest (Lev23:21)
Feast of Trumpets (Lev23:23-25)
Day of Atonement (Lev23:26-32)
Feast of Tabernacles (Lev23:33-36)
This one like unleavened bread had two
So, the Jewish days of rest, which were commanded were about 70. We also know that the Old Testament was written for our learning (Rom15:4); so what did it say in the Matthew passage again (Mt11:28)?
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Now let’s talk about taking time to rest, both physical and spiritual
Taking time to rest
Taking time to rest
Take time to come apart, to rest, so you don’t fall apart. This applies to the body and to the spirit of the body.
Dangers to avoid
Too much work, activity
No man can work without rest
No man can live a Christian life without rest (a time) with God. We cannot handle life in this world without the proper things needed when we spend time with the Creator of this world. Remember Jesus came to give us life full, and full includes
How can we carry one another’s burdens (Gal6:2) if we are not staying connected with the Lord who gives us all things for life and godliness and that includes cross bearing or burden bearing.
Too much work, not enough God means we are trying to operate under our own power and the God’s. We needs God’s power and God’s strength to help us.
It is quintessential that we seek the Savior in a quiet place to have our inner being strengthened; and that takes time, rest from work, rest from activity.
The other thing to avoid is:
Too much withdrawal
I want to share a couple of thoughts I read in commentary on our passage from
Daily Bible Study by William Barclay
Devotion that does not issue an action is not real devotion.
Devotion in prayer that does not issue in work is not real prayer
An abbreviated one for the quote is too long is
Don’t seek fellowship with God as a means to not fellowship with men
We need to have the right balance, the right rhythm of the Christian life in meeting with God in the secret place and serving men in the market place.
Types of rest
Physical rest (I think we have covered)
Physical rests we discussed in the O.T.
But what about today, do we need physical rests today? If so, why?
We need a good nights sleep to recharge our bodies and to help with health. Even a good power nap would be nice too.
Vacations or get away’s; Dinner dates fellowships with friends and family
Benefits of physical rest: helps reduce stress, anxiety, can help with weight control and with memory.
Spiritual rest (Php4:6-9)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Spiritual rest is taking time for the Lord; daily devotionals
Spiritual rest may include, should include, prayer, meditation on God’s Word as we see the N.T. example from the Php4:6-9 passage we just looked at
Benefits of spiritual rest: A closer walk with God, a renewed, transformed person and peace.
So both body and soul need times of rest and have benefits to both. But rest application, here are some suggestions.
Make time to rest
Isaac did in the evening (Gen24:53)
David and Daniel, well, morning, noon and evening (Psm55:17; Dan6:10)
Jesus was a morning person (Mk1:34)
Now back to our passage again
30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
Where did Jesus want to go (v.31)?
Why did Jesus want them to go (v.32)?
When did He call them to do it (v.30)?
Choose a place to rest
Isaac it was in a field (Gen24:63)
David on his bed (Psm4:4)
Daniel in his room (Dan6:10)
Jesus, deserted places (MK1:35)
Now these are just some biblical examples, most have been from the O.T. but they are used to just get you thinking about the importance of rest both physical and spiritual and to stimulate you to think about your rest, are you getting it?
Our walk with the Lord is just that, a walk, it is not a sprint, so enjoy the journey here until the day we get our heavenly rest.
Now that is only 1/2 of the study this morning, we still have the other part to look at.
Compassion of the Shepherd
Compassion of the Shepherd
Keep in mind, and keep in context what has been happening, just back from limited commission mission trip (Mk6:7-13; Mk6:30) the apostles were going to get away for a time of rest with Jesus. Now we see the heart of the Savior, the compassion of the Shepherd.
33 The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Has anyone ever told you that you need to put in 10,000 steps a day to stay, or help to keep you healthy? Well these people did. It took them some time to make it from one side of the lake to the other and to do it at a brisk pace to get there before Jesus and the Apostles.
What did Jesus see when He went ashore (v.34)?
What did Jesus feel for them (v.34)?
Why did He feel it (v.34)?
What did He do (v.34)?
So we see Jesus who wants to get away with his disciples for they were inundated with the crowds who all want time and attention. He wants to hear about the mission trip, but the crowds and the ministry are crowding out everything including eating. Any ordinary man may have put blinders on, but Jesus put on compassion for they were like sheep without a shepherd and that is dangerous.
A sheep without a shepherd cannot find it’s way; it would get lost, hence parable of the lost sheep (Lk15:1-7)
We can get so busy and caught up, without rest and focus that we can get lost, we need the Shepherd to guide us and to lead us in the way we should go.
A sheep without the shepherd cannot find its pasture or food
Don’t we need food to eat, spiritual food as well as physical. The Shepherd provides bread from heaven (Jn6:35) - the bread being Jesus
We need sustenance, we need strength and we need inspiration all can be found in God’s Word.
A sheep without the shepherd has not protection against the dangers that are out there.
The sheep cannot protect itself, not from the robbers, the thieves, the wolves or any other danger, it needs the shepherd to protect it.
We as Christians need the shepherd and what He provides to us to protect us from the dangers that are real that are out there that want to destroy us. Only in the company of the shepherd are we able to walk in this world and not get our garments dirty with sin. , He wants to be our defense and our shield.
May we always remember what we have:
Jesus who is the door of protection (Jn10:7)
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Jesus who is the Good Shepherd who gives up His life for us (Jn1011)
Jesus who is the Good Shepherd who gives up His life for us (Jn10:11)
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus is the Shepherd who knows His Sheep (Jn10:14)
Jesus is the Shepherd who knows His Sheep (Jn10:14)
14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
so in closing may we remember to come to Him! He has all of eternity to offer to us!