Come Away…And Rest Awhile

“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.”

These words never cease to affect me. These are the words of our Lord Jesus to his disciples. He had sent them out on a mission (Mark 6:7 – 13). They were eminently successful (vs. 13). Upon their return to Jesus they told him of all they had done (vs. 30), and our Lord responded with these words of our text (vs. 31). The value of any rest must never be underestimated. For those who are slaves to work, that is what exactly what you are: a slave. Rest should always be the consequence of labor. Our Lord directs his disciples to rest in a desolate place. A desolate place is necessary to recharge the mind and heart, let alone the body. Fruitful labor is the consequence of good rest. This is so obvious. We got to sleep each night in order to be able to discharge the responsibilities of the next day. A lack of rest or a bad night’s sleep carries over in the next day and affects us and others.

Physical rest is always a picture of spiritual rest. Going to sleep at night should remind us of the fragility of life (leading to death) and awaking in the morning should remind us of that future hope we have: resurrection. We scarcely think like this every night. A good prayer life with your spouse at the end of each day puts you in the right frame of mind. You go to bed thinking of spiritual things and awake with them on your mind and heart. This takes time and practice. Good rest must be planned and must be taken when available to us (as we are able).

When the Lord had worked for six days, we find him resting on the seventh. God was setting in motion a fundamental principle for both physical and spiritual life. It is quite remarkable to note that even unbelievers recognize the need for and value of rest. This is simply a reflection of what God has ordained, whether they know it or not. Jesus points out that rest should be for “a while” (vs. 31). It is not to be overextended. Too much rest leaves one dull-minded and sluggish. Sleep too much and you also feel the effects.

I like the picture that connects physical rest with spiritual rest. In Matthew 11:28 – 30, our Lord invited all those who were laboring and were heavy laden with burdens to come to him and he would provide rest. In fact, Jesus referred to it as “rest for your souls” (vs. 29). Spiritual rest is to be found only in Christ. The seventh day is a Sabbath (the Sabbath is a creation ordinance), which means a day of rest. There is no reason not to transfer the seventh day under the Old Covenant to the Lord’s Day under the New Covenant. In fact, I would argue that since we are now under the obligation of love to Christ, the obligation of duty (or law) is secondary (as in the Old Covenant). Most Christians are completely unaware of this connection and so hold loose views concerning their obligation. So let love for Christ motivate you on the Lord’s Day.

The picture then of physical rest for spiritual rest is powerful and we must not miss it. Resting for the disciples did not mean the end of spiritual work. Their physical resting prompted by Jesus is in order that they be spiritually strong and vigilant and not slack off in their spiritual obligations. Physical rest therefore, is always subordinate to spiritual responsibility.

This is a crucial point. The ability to rest and worship are intimately connected. Failure to rest will affect your worship. Just ask any family rushing to get to church. Wives are run ragged looking after children trying to get them ready and arrive at church in a frame of mind that probably should have been left at home. Husbands have failed to prepare themselves spiritually and therefore are in a fleshly, earthly mind. Hardly the right way to worship, yet it is as common as the grass growing outside. Anyone with children knows this experience. So it requires planning in order to be ready to worship. Worship is not showing up on Sunday and singing a few hymns and listening to the sermon. Worship requires devotion, and you cannot worship if you have not taken the time to prepare yourself spiritually.

Imagine defending yourself in court without preparation. Imagine coming to worship without preparation. Imagine working continually without resting. You get the point. Spiritual resting is both present and future. We can enjoy spiritual rest here and now but we all know that eternity is the Sabbath Rest of God. Is not our spiritual life here and now a preparation for the future? Paul tells us that “bodily training has some value now, but godliness is of value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Paul gives us his conclusion up front in verse 7, when he says, “rather train yourself for godliness.”

Athletes know the value of light and heavy training. Training in godliness requires the same approach. The light training might be some change in your reading or thinking. The heavy training would be your consistent work at studying the Bible, memorizing the Bible, meditating on Scripture and seeking to apply Scripture as circumstances dictate. And never forget that we are at war; therefore, we cannot be slack at our posts. A watchman asleep has failed in his duty.

This regimen is different for everyone yet the diet is always spiritual. Ability often dictates the difference between enjoyment and struggle, yet ability is no guarantee of godliness. Paul says “train yourself.” You have to have regimen.

You have to have a regimen for recovery. The disciples will be far better workmen if they rest for a while. We are all aware that our Lord knew his disciples better than they knew themselves. This means that Jesus knows you far better than you will ever know yourself. This does not mean that you can forget about learning about yourself. Do you read better on your knees or in your favorite chair? If the chair always puts you to sleep in a minute, then you have to make a change in order to read. This strategy is so simple, yet many believers do not think like this. If I do not rest physically, then how can I worship spiritually? This is only the start. Just because I rest physically does not mean I will worship biblically. My spiritual ability, which is tied to my physical rest, is also tied to Christ.

Jesus invited his disciples to rest, but he would be with them. When our Lord gave his great commission to his disciples, the last thing he told them was, “and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). So as the disciples labored for the Lord, he was with them. How foolish we are to try and labor in our own strength apart from Jesus. How foolish to go through the motions. I prefer the real thing. I like reading the original authors. If someone quotes Augustine or Edwards, I prefer to read them as they wrote it. I hate being second-hand (as it were). So many believers are living second-hand. Instead of going to Jesus they are going everywhere else (wherever that might be). We know far more about others than about Jesus. There is something wrong with that picture.

Are we resting in Jesus and working for Jesus, and will we do so as we enter the New Year? Are we worshiping as he desires and not as we think we ought to? Get some rest so that you can labor. No rest means poor service. Come apart, Jesus says and rest a while. Then when your work is done, you can rest forever.