The Christian often expects one thing, but gets another!  For the disciples, the prospect of 'quality time' with the Master after their first experience of being sent out on mission (Mark 6:7-12) would have been a welcome holiday.  Perhaps the boat trip across to the other side of the lake felt like a relaxing cruise.  But not for long!  The crowds who were seeking Jesus (for all kinds of reasons) were so keen that thousands of them ran around the lakeside to form a reception committee when the boat landed.

Jesus had compassion on the crowd.  They were spiritually lost.  They had nowhere else to go to find the only Shepherd who truly loved them.  They may have been intrigued by His miracles, and admired His teaching, but Jesus did not want to collect admirers.  He was making disciples - by teaching them the truth about the Kingdom of heaven and how to be included (Matthew 28:18-20).  Jesus wanted them to believe in Him as the Shepherd King (Ezekiel 37:24), the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).  Every other part of His ministry supported that purpose.  The miracles got people's attention; the teaching called for their obedience (Romans 1:5).

Jesus did not resent the crowd, aggressively protecting His private space and that of His disciples.  They had enjoyed a holy-day in the presence of the Son of God.  The boat trip was relaxing.  They did have time to talk together and share their stories with Jesus.  He had provided what He promised – time away from the crowds and a brief period of rest.  He was not indifferent to the disciples' need of refreshment.  But He had compassion on the spiritually lost.  In this narrative, Jesus was also teaching the disciples how genuine love inspires sacrificial ministry - because He knew the extreme pressures which they would experience as leaders of the Early Church.  So, this was another training session for the trainee apostles whose life-calling would be to minister out of weakness, finding their strength in the Lord (Isaiah 40:28-31). The Apostle Paul's testimony in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 is a powerful example of how the compassion of Christ motivates His servants despite almost impossible difficulties.   

Everybody involved in Christian ministry has experienced the same sinking feeling that the disciples may have experienced.  Just when you think that you have a little time to relax, the phone rings, an urgent message arrives, someone is knocking at the door ... and, all of a sudden, rest is cancelled!  It would be nice to think that God fits His plan for our lives into our available diary slots.  But that is not the way He works.  He expects us to be available to serve Him when He calls, not when we plan to make diary space for Him.  Yes, it may be hard and inconvenient, and when we are tired or even not wanting to serve.  But if the Lord wants to bring His truth and love and life to lost sheep - He will give us all the resources we need to work with Him.