30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:30-34 KJV)
The People Followed Jesus to a Secluded Place
In these verses, we have the return of the apostles to Christ, whom Christ had sent out (Mark 6:7) to preach and perform miracles. They had gone to different parts of the country, but after fulfilling their assignments, they returned together to Jesus, their common center, to report on what they had done in line with his commission. As the servant who invited guests to a feast and then reported back to his master, so the apostles told Jesus everything—what they had done and what they had taught.
Ministers are accountable for both their actions and their teaching and must watch over their own lives and those they serve, as ones who must give an account (Hebrews 13:17). Let them neither do nor teach anything they wouldn’t want to recount to Christ. Faithful ministers can take comfort in bringing their work to Christ, even if misrepresented by others. He allows them to be open with him—to share their experiences, successes, and disappointments.
Christ showed compassion for their exhaustion (Mark 6:31). Noticing they were worn out, he said, “Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.” Around the same time, John’s disciples brought news of his death, and Christ took notice of both their sorrow and the apostles’ fatigue, offering comfort to each, rest for the weary, and peace for the grieving. With great kindness, he said, “Come and rest.” Active servants of Christ need times of rest; our physical bodies require breaks. We can’t serve God without pause until we reach heaven, where rest is replaced with endless praise (Revelation 4:8). The Lord considers our physical needs and not only permits rest but encourages it. “Come, my people, enter your chambers… Return to your rest.” Those who labor faithfully can rest cheerfully—“The sleep of a working person is sweet.”
He told them to come away by themselves. If others were around, they’d still be working. To truly rest, they had to be alone. He didn’t take them to a country retreat with luxurious surroundings, but to a quiet, remote place. It fit the rest of his life—he who preached from a boat found rest in a desert. The rest was temporary—just a short break to regain strength before returning to work. There’s no lasting rest for God’s people until they reach heaven. The reason wasn’t just their hard work, but the constant activity that left them no time to eat. With people always coming and going, nothing could be done in order. A little work becomes overwhelming if there’s no routine.
So they left by boat, not crossing the sea but sailing along the coast to a quiet place near Bethsaida (Mark 6:32). Traveling by boat was less tiring than walking. They went quietly, hoping to be alone. Even public figures sometimes desire privacy.
Still, the people followed Jesus. It was inconsiderate to disturb him when he clearly wanted rest, but they weren’t turned away. Instead, they were welcomed. A lack of proper etiquette can be forgiven in those who are eager to follow Christ. They came voluntarily. No time was announced, no gathering planned, no bell rang—yet they came like clouds, like doves to their nests. They left their homes, shops, and work to hear him. Though he traveled by boat, they ran on foot and even arrived ahead of him, eager for the word of God. They followed him even into a desert place, plain and inconvenient. But Christ’s presence turns the wilderness into paradise.
When Jesus saw the large crowd (Mark 6:34), instead of being upset that his rest was interrupted, he had compassion. They were like sheep without a shepherd—eager to be led but lacking guidance and nourishment. So he taught them many things—true, good, and necessary teachings. He also healed their sick (Matthew 14:14).