TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Mark 6:30-34

DEVOTIONAL

by Pastor Telo Flores

We recently held a 3-day retreat for High School students. We’ve been warned that this batch didn’t have the best behavior in class. I paid little attention to those warnings, assuming that all the fun they’ll have in the retreat would make them less “makulit” or “pasaway.”

Our coordinator was kind hearted. He enforced only a few rules to keep things in order. One rule was that no one should go to the swimming pool area so we could easily monitor everyone. However, during their first free time, many students changed into swimming attire and went to the pool. It was disheartening seeing them walking in direct disobedience against the rule we had just given them. I lost much of the excitement I had for the retreat.

Some days later, I was leading an Access Bible Study. We began by sharing personal updates. I shared about our retreat and how the students were “makulit” and “pasaway.” We then read our passage for the day in our verse-by-verse study of Mark. We just reached the Feeding of the Five Thousand story, which begins:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:30-31)

I’ve read this story many times, but our discussion helped me see things I never saw before:

1. The disciples returned from a mission trip (Mark 6:7-13; 30).
2. Jesus’ cousin, John, was recently killed (Mark 6:14-29).
3. They went to the desolate place to “get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Jesus and his disciples were apparently heading to a retreat. But on their way, they saw the five thousand men:

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. (Mark 6:32-33)

The five thousand men were uninvited guests. They were intruders ruining the retreat plans of Jesus and his disciples.

I could imagine what Christ’s disciples must have felt seeing that crowd. They felt frustrated and disrespected. Hence, their eagerness to have Jesus “send them away” (Mark 6:36). But what about Jesus? What did he think about this “makulit” and “pasaway” crowd?

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34)

This verse broke my heart. It showed me how far I’ve fallen short in Christlikeness as a pastor. When I saw the students being “makulit” and “pasaway”, I lost the desire to serve them. But Jesus saw a larger crowd who were much more “makulit” and “pasaway.” He loved them.

I was once a “makulit” and “pasaway” student. In many ways, I still am “makulit” and “pasaway.” But Jesus loves me. He is patient with me. He died for me. As a sinner bought by Christ’s precious blood, I must serve others with the same love and patience.

 

REFLECTION