Mark 3:7-10 "Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him."
I need a getaway car! Thanks basically what Jesus tells His disciples in the middle of His ministry. Jesus has been teaching, healing, and traveling throughout the land and the crowds continue to grow. They come from all over and were a mix of people. Why are they coming though? It's not for His teaching or preaching and it's not even because He has been challenging the religious elite. They come for healing, to simply touch Him. They are not actually interested in the person of Jesus, they are only interested in what He can do for them. Imagine how draining this can be? So, He tells His disciples to get a boat ready and like some scene from an action movie "the boys" get Jesus to the boat, jump in, and begin rowing as hard and fast as they can to get away. Jesus needed to get away.
What does this say about ministry?
1. Ministry is hard
When ministry is done right in service and love it is incredibly hard. Whether you serve in lay leadership of a church or as a paid staff person, the work and amount of energy and life poured into your ministry wears you out. Stay in the mix long enough without a "getaway car" and you might find yourself burnout. Perhaps you might think, pastors just preach, visit with people, and plan ministry stuff. That is true, but think through this: Scripture holds pastors/teachers to a higher standard when they preach/teach from the Word. Mishandling the Word means leading others under the same misdirection. That is pressure to study and prepare a sermon/lesson in a way that is true to the text and speaks to the people. Those people pastor's visit are many times dealing with hard life issues. Perhaps it's a couple who is on the verge of divorce and he is now counseling them through all the baggage that goes with that. Maybe it's a family who child is sick and they are unsure of a cure. Maybe it is a widow who hasn't have family visit her in months and she is lonely and desperately wants to talk, to know she is loved. Finally, he is now planning ministry. He is working on putting Scripture into practice and equipping the people to do so. He is providing leadership and vision to people who may or may not agree with it. "Getaway cars" are necessary in the life of people working deep in ministry.
2. Not Everyone Cares About True Meaning Behind Ministry
The people came to Jesus not to accept Him, but to get something from Him. Many times that is the reality behind ministry. People will try to take advantage of, use and abuse the person who is ministering. Imagine a person pouring their heart and life into something and rarely hearing a thank you, a well done, or even spiritual fruit from their work (right away). This doesn't mean we stop ministering to people, but we must recognize that people will take without a second thought of the person. Why? It's human nature, it's sin. We are naturally bent toward selfishness and many times we don't even realize what we are doing. As ministers, this can be so hard to face day in and day out. Even more, we can offer so much to help people in order to share the true reason- salvation in Christ- and still find rejection on the other end. This doesn't mean we stop trying, but it does mean that we need a "getaway car."
3. Get a "Getaway Car"
A getaway car will be different for each person. But I think there should be 3 ways we approach our need for the "getaway". One, have an everyday "getaway". Ideally this should happen in our "quiet times" with Jesus in Scripture and prayer. If you are not doing this, then start the habit now! However, there are other ways too. Perhaps listening to music, reading a book, finding a quiet room, or getting a cup of coffee is your getaway. For me, I try to set time everyday near the end of my day in the office to read. It is my way to decompress from the day and I have found it so helpful to my soul. Two, have a couple of "getaway" spots you like to go. This needs to be locally to you and further out. For me, there are a couple of places in the church I can go and not worry about someone finding me for a period of time that allow me to be alone. I also try to find at least 1-2 conferences that are away from my ministry location to attend to learn and to rejuvenate. I recommend the same. Third, take a vacation!! But, when you go on vacation leave your work/ministry behind. Enjoy the time with family or with by yourself. Many times ministers feel guilty stepping away briefly from their work, but even Jesus stepped away and rested. I think it's okay to follow the steps of the Savior to rest from time to time.
