Watching preschoolers play with seemingly endless vigor has caused many to say, “Boy, I wish I had their energy!”
Perhaps you have been enduring the bronchitis going around and you’ve repeated, “I sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
Maybe the storms kept you awake and you woke up still feeling tired the next morning.
Did Jesus get tired? I believe he was fully human and therefore experienced physical exhaustion many times.
On one occasion Jesus said, “‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” Mark 6:31 ESV
At another time, “Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.” Matthew 15:21 “And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know.” Mark 7:24 ESV
The Bible’s honesty is refreshing. God put on flesh, came to earth, and experienced every temptation we face except for one thing. He was without sin. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 ESV
If Jesus needed times of rest, retreat, and refueling, we do too! The old preacher Vance Havner died in 1986, but his wit lives on. He quipped, “If we don’t come apart; we will come apart.”
Our faith needs to go beyond apathy and inactivity. A friend of mine takes a two-day spiritual retreat every three months. He reads, prays, takes notes, and reflects. Always part of the retreat is to take a nap or two.
Jesus dealt with people who were tired, not just physically, but tired of religion. Jumping through hoops of hollow rules certainly has turned many against God and blamed “religion.”
Jesus offers spiritual rest in an invigorating relationship with Himself. There’s a big difference between gladly following a person and being tied to a treadmill of religion. He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11.28 ESV
Father, thank-you for the rest you give us physically in order to serve you. Invigorate us with your presence in a living relationship.
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Amen.
