Discipleship Needs
based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Rev. Karen A. Goltz

            Two weeks ago we heard in our gospel reading that Jesus called the twelve to him and sent them out on a mission in pairs.  They were given authority over unclean spirits, and they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.  They cast out demons, cured many who were sick, and trusted in God for their provisions.  After some undisclosed period of time, they came back to Jesus and told him about their mission.  I kind of wish Mark had been a little more descriptive in what they said, and how they said it, rather than simply stating that they “told him all that they had done and taught.” 

Were they all fired up with the Spirit, energized and excited by what they’d accomplished?  Did they barely pause for breath as they told Jesus, “We stayed at this one house where they welcomed us in and invited all their friends and extended family and we taught them and they listened to us and we healed some of them who were really sick and it was awesome, and then there was this other house where it was like everyone was possessed with demons and we told them to come out of the people and they did, and then there was this other place…” and on and on and on. 

Was it like that?  Or were they exhausted and a little overwhelmed by the needs of the people, not quite complaining about how busy they’d been, but certainly aware that they’d barely dented the surface?  “It was house after house after house.  Some of them refused us even though they clearly needed to hear the good news, and we had to keep walking until we found a place that would welcome us, and once we got there they were in pretty bad shape so we had to preach and teach and heal and cast out demons for hours before we could even get something to eat.  And as word spread more and more people came to us, and it was good that we were able to help so many, but we’ve had very little sleep and too much road food, and there are so many more who need us but right now my brain is just leaking out of my ears!”

            Anyone who has taken their call to discipleship seriously, either in a mission field far away or right here in your own church and neighborhood, can relate to both scenarios.  Doing God’s work can be energizing and exciting.  But it can also be exhausting.  Particularly in our world today, where there are so many people in need, physically and spiritually.  We know we’ve got something too good to keep to ourselves, and we’re not supposed to keep it to ourselves, and it’s very easy to get caught up in the mode of constantly doing, constantly working, constantly accomplishing something. 

Our society actually values and rewards that level of activity, with time off being seen as selfish or a sign of laziness or a lack of commitment and dedication.  Many of us try to take time off to rest and recharge, recognizing that Jesus himself told his disciples to do just that, but when we actually do we find that the demands of the world and the ministry follow us even to our peaceful sanctuary. 

Just like with the disciples in today’s reading.  Whether excited or exhausted, they tell Jesus about their ministry, and he tells them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”  So they get in a boat and go to a deserted place by themselves.  But those whose needs have not yet been met see them going off, figure out where they’re headed, and meet them there.  By the time their boat lands in the deserted place, the place is deserted no more.  It seems like it just never ends.

            I wonder how the disciples felt about that.  Did they see the crowds and jump right up so they could continue all that they’d been doing?  Did they close their eyes for a moment, try to gather the strength they’d need, then brace themselves for the hard work ahead?  Or did they recognize the fact that the crowds weren’t really there for them?  The text tells us that the crowds recognized ‘them,’ meaning either the disciples alone or the disciples and Jesus, and followed them all, but it was Jesus who went ashore, saw a great crowd, had compassion for them, and began to teach them many things.  Jesus did that, not the disciples.  What were the disciples doing?

            There are two possibilities.  They might have stayed in the boat and slept, catching up on their rest as Jesus had intended, while Jesus taught the crowd on the shore.  Or, and I think this is more likely, they might have gotten off the boat first, and when Jesus saw the great crowd of people who were like sheep without a shepherd, he saw both those who had come on foot and his disciples who had come on the boat, all as part of the same crowd.  Jesus’ compassion was not only for the needy masses, but for his own apostles as well.

            As we get so busy serving the spiritual and physical needs of others, we often lose sight of our own needs.  Sooner or later we have to acknowledge and address our physical limitations, but it’s easy to forget that for all we try to teach others about Christ, we ourselves still need to learn.  For all that we comfort others, we ourselves need to be comforted.  For all that we try to heal others, we ourselves need to be healed.  We are called to be followers of Christ, and that is a difficult and rigorous calling, but we are not called to be Christ himself.  There’s only one God incarnate, and none of us are it.

            Living in this world is not easy, but we’re called to do the best we can do.  As Christians, we’re called not only to do the best we can in society, for ourselves, but we’re called to serve and minister to others as well.  It’s a blessing and a struggle to minister to others in need, because however much we do or give, it’s never going to be enough.  But never lose sight of the fact that when Jesus had compassion for the crowd, he had compassion for you, too. 

You are included in his mercy and his grace.  You probably know that.  But remember that you’re also in need of his mercy and his grace, constantly, no matter how much you serve others.  People from all over rushed to Jesus to beg for his grace.  All who touched even the fringe of his cloak were healed.  While you’re in the midst of directing people to that healing power, don’t forget to touch it yourself every now and again.  You need it.  And that’s what it’s there for.  Amen.