The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 6:31-32, “And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.’

(For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

32 “And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.”

Tragedies often drain us of strength. The death of a loved one is just such a tragedy. John the Baptist

(literally, John the baptizing one) had just been put to death by King Herod. It was that same John, and a

cousin of Jesus, who had earlier come out of the wilderness to introduce Him to the multitudes. John was

a bold and righteous man. The agony of John’s death was heavily upon the minds and hearts of those

early apostles.

Thus, Jesus said, “Come away / by yourselves / to a lonely place / and rest a while.”

Here is the first part of Jesus’ four-part command: “Come away…” At first, it may seem as if Jesus is signaling a retreat for His men. But, in reality, He is not calling them to forsake their work altogether. They just need to cease work for a time and in order to rest their minds and emotions.

He also said, “by yourselves.” We are social creatures. We tend to share our worries and joys with others. We tend to be suspicious of hermits, who steer clear others. There are occasions when we just need to be by ourselves. We have to think things through without the well-meaning direction of even the closest of friends.

Further, we need to withdraw “to a lonely place.” That means, we don’t need a crowd to confuse our thinking. We need to be alone. Crowds are distractions, and within a short time we will find ourselves siding with their thoughts and their involvements concerning things that are neither their business nor their knowledge. All of that is a distraction from the purpose for which we have come to “a lonely place.”

Additionally, Jesus’ instruction indicates that our “rest” is not a total relinquishment of the work He has assigned us; it is just the right amount of “withdrawal time” we need to work out the problems we face. Nor is it inconceivable to believe that when our work is resumed, it will offer a better result and a more efficient product.

Subsequently, the disciples obeyed and “went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.” A runner who prepares himself to race is more apt to win over those who have not prepared. So it is spiritually. When we obey the LORD’s commands, we win over those who neither know Him nor know to obey His will. Think about this with respect to your own life. Are you too much in the fray of things? –too much to take time to hear Him and to obey Him? Start today to discipline yourself according to His Word. Anxieties will vanish, and you will be refreshed for the work to which He has called you.

You will be in our prayers,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”