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Chapter 38—Christ and the Twelve Take a Vacation
This chapter is based on
Matthew 14:1, 2, 12, 13
;
Mark 6:30-32
;
Luke 9:7-10
.
On returning from their missionary tour, “the apostles returned
to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught. And He
said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest
a while.’” RSV.
The disciples’ intimate relationship with Jesus encouraged them
to lay before Him their favorable and unfavorable experiences as
evangelists. As they frankly told Christ of their experiences, He saw
that they needed much instruction. He saw, too, that they needed
rest.
But where they then were they could not obtain privacy, “for
there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much
as to eat.” The people were thronging after Christ, anxious to be
healed and eager to listen to His words. He seemed to many to be
the fountain of all blessings.
But now Christ longed for retirement, for He had much to say to
His disciples. In their work at times they had been much troubled to
know what to do. They needed now to go to a place of retirement
where they could hold communion with Jesus and receive instruction
for future work. They had been putting their whole souls into labor
for the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental
strength. It was their duty to rest.
As the disciples had seen the success of their labors, they were in
danger of taking credit to themselves, of cherishing spiritual pride,
and falling under Satan’s temptations. They must learn that their
strength was not in self, but in God. They needed to commune with
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Christ, with nature, and with their own hearts.
It was about this time that Jesus received tidings of the Baptist’s
death. This brought vividly before Him the end to which His own
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