7-22-18 My Vacation on a boat is not the same as Jesus’ vacation on a boat!

Scripture   Matthew 11:28-30

          SIT IN LAWN CHAIR - pastor vacation song.

We need vacations/rest/time away. The human part of Jesus was no different and there were times he got away - like me he got away in a boat - no better way to do a vacation then when a boat is involved. However, SLIDE - Boat 7 My vacation on a boat is different than Jesus’ vacation on a boat.

My ideal vacation would be in the winter going to a tropical paradise spending every day on the beach or on a boat on the water. My more realistic vacation is staying in the 54 year old cottage at Put in Bay and feeling no need to do work (that is difficult for me). I always think I could be working on things for church as well as working on things around the cottage. SO I tend not to get the relaxation there that I would in the tropics.

Why do we want or need a vacation anyway?

Our bodies need to recuperate. Our minds need to slow down. But there is something even more important that we need - and I don’t know that a vacation will do this, but I am sure it doesn’t hurt - we need SOUL rest - SPIRIT renewal.

          Jesus knew the disciples needed a vacation or SOUL rest - SPIRIT renewal - time away in quiet with him. A story is told of an exploration team in Africa which had employed a group of natives to carry their supplies to go with them into the interior. Being in a hurry to reach their objective, the team pushed forward at a rather quick pace for several days. At one point, the natives just sat down and would not go further. Frustrated by this stoppage, they asked why they were sitting instead of moving forward? The spokesperson for the natives replied, "We are waiting for our souls to catch up with our bodies."

          Jesus knew the disciples souls needed to catch up with their bodies, and, on one occasion, this is what happened:

Mark 6:30-56

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.”

FOOT RACE WITH A BOAT

32 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.

FEEDING THE 5000

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, *$ “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. (DO SKIT HERE) They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

JESUS SENT THE BOAT AHEAD

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.  He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.

48 Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.  As soon as they got out of the boat, (they got their vacation) people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.  And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

THE REST TEXT

Matt 11:28-30     NIV

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

It is not about needing a vacation - yes vacations are important. But this text is talking about vacating your agenda, your struggle, your anxiety, your depression, your workaholism, your religiosity, anything that makes you move so fast or get so distracted…you forget to rest with Jesus - not just for moment - but with your whole life.  Here is the same text from the MESSAGE version:

Matt 11:28-30      The Message

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

CONCLUSION

          Yes Jesus, as man, had to get away to rest in God his Father. But Jesus as God needs no rest:

Psalm 121:1-8

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Matthew 11:28-30 was the text of the preacher one night. His heart was so full of Christ that his words could not express what he wanted to say. All he could say was, "'Come unto Me'—what does it mean? 'Come unto Me'—what does it mean?" Again and again he repeated, "What does it mean? What does it mean?" All at once, a little girl, sitting on a front seat, timidly rose and held out her hand. "Well," asked the preacher, "what does it mean, dear child?" "It means that He wants me,". The preacher sat down. Both he and the people felt no more needed to be said. "The wisest and most able among us could not have given a truer and sweeter exposition of the text.” "Come unto Me" means that "Jesus wants ME."