Well. If we hadn’t yet figured it out, it now becomes quite clear why Jesus often asked healed people not to spread the news! Jesus and His disciples are working past the point of exhaustion and the crowds just don’t stop coming, do they? Even when they try to get away … the crowds track them down. And yet. What did you think of Jesus’ response? Mark 6:34 tells us “Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” I am in awe of the many things. He loved this crowd and His compassion was so great that He taught them fully. All day long. OH, what a tender Savior! What a good Shepherd! The miracle of feeding All Those People was incredible, too. He not only took care of their spiritual needs, He noticed their physical needs as well.
My recorded verse: Mark 6:46 “After telling everyone goodbye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.”
My response: Even when weary, Lord Jesus, You found the time to be alone with the Father in prayer. You told the crowds goodbye and then instead of sleep, You chose prayer. Help me to never neglect the sweet times in Your Presence that enable me to keep going. If ever someone “ought” to have been given a “pass” on prayer time, that person would have been You on that long day—and yet meeting with Your Father meant more to You than sleep. Oh I have so much to learn, Lord!
