Session 3: The Retreat

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Mark 6:30–56
• Scripture Memory - Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth. Psalm 46:10
• Catechism - Q: What practice helps us foster intimacy with God? A: Solitude.

Introduction

But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Solitude, silence, and the strait keeping of the heart, are the foundations and grounds of a spiritual life.

God desires deep and intimate fellowship with his people. He is no dispassionate or uninvolved deity. God delights in his people and desires his people to joyfully bask in the covenant relationship he has established with the faithful. As hospitality helps to establish the communion of the saints, retreat and solitude are God-appointed means for God’s communion with the saints. God invites us to intermittently withdraw from the normal rhythms of life and the relentless demands of earthly pressures to spend concentrated time with the Lord. This practice is of great benefit to individual believers and the whole faith community.

Surrounding culture and evil forces oppose the spiritual practices of seclusion and retreat. That which is opposed to God seeks to disrupt, dismantle, and undermine the relationship between God and his people. The systems of the world seem to move at an unceasing pace, trapping people and churches in a perpetual current of activity. For many, life may aptly be described as hectic, frenzied, or fast-paced. Schedules easily fill to the brim. Families hurriedly move from one activity to the next. Even churches can yield to the fast-paced grind of modern society. Busy and bustling, the world affords very little space for personal introspection, community connection, and spiritual reflection so necessary for the life of faith. We need not live under the domineering tyranny of a rushed and hyperactive world. The spiritual practice of seclusion and retreat is a proactive and assertive pause to life’s flurry in order to maintain the priority of faith and foster intimacy with God. We neglect this practice to our personal and communal peril. Lest we think that busyness, preoccupation, and weariness are only dangers for modern society, we turn to the Scripture to learn from Jesus. He is our masterful guide, modeling how to balance many facets of Christian living: cultivating intimacy with God, fostering meaningful community, and ministering to others.

In Mark 6:30–56, Jesus invited his disciples to retreat to a solitary place for a time of rest and rejuvenation. Having returned from a taxing tour of ministry, this invitation offered a timely respite for both Jesus and his disciples as they recalibrated their relationship with God and prepared for upcoming ministry opportunities. At this time, Jesus and his disciples were caught in a seemingly constant flurry of ministry demands. The needs of the people and the intensity of their difficult conditions seemed inescapable. The eager and ever-needy crowd interrupted Jesus and his disciples’ retreat. Even as they left the crowd, the people followed them to their destination. Jesus disembarked from the boat and performed a miraculous feat to minister to the hungry crowd, feeding thousands of people with meager portions of fish and several loaves of bread. After this supernatural provision, Jesus sent his disciples across the sea, where he walked on water to meet his disciples on the windy waters. This powerful revelation of Jesus’ presence was followed by an arrival at Gennesaret, where they met another group of needy people desperate for Jesus’ healing touch.

Highlighting Jesus’ popularity, the weighty pressures of ministry, the immaturity of his disciples, and the need for rest, this story commends seclusion and solitude as a faith practice that will help us to practice God’s presence. Just as this narrative intersperses rest and retreat in the midst of ministry and mission, we must integrate seclusion and solitude into our daily lives. Interludes of seclusion and silence kindle intimacy with God and camaraderie with God’s people, sustaining us in the pilgrimage of life, energizing us for God’s work in the world, and offering us a fresh (and more accurate) perspective with which to navigate realities of life and ministry. Let us journey with Jesus and his disciples on the crowded shorelines and windy seas of this compelling narrative to learn how to apply these practices to our spiritual life and faith community.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God is inviting us into intimacy through the spiritual practice of seclusion and solitude.

Passage Overview

You only have one life to live. God has not called you to live this life alone. God wants his people to enjoy intimacy with him and genuine fellowship with other believers. All too often, we confront obstacles to this kind of life. Our hearts can inordinately cleave to worldly pursuits and possessions. Our minds can grow confused about our life purpose. Our hearts can become conflicted with competing desires. Our relationships can come under the strain of unmet and unrealistic expectations. Our vision of personal identity can grow hazy. Our sense of closeness with God can seem to wane. Although the crowded, congested, and cluttered experience of life can impede our intimacy with God and fellowship with others, we need not be shackled by our surrounding circumstances. Times of retreat and seclusion aid us in recovering a life of promised rest. Such is the life Jesus commended to his disciples in this biblical text. In the midst of ministry demands, material lack, and chaotic seas, Jesus offered rest, calm, and divine abundance to his disciples. He offers the same to us. Through the practice of spiritual retreat, we can reorient our priorities, enjoy God’s sustaining presence, equip ourselves to serve others, and deepen our faith in Christ. Through retreat and seclusion, we can detach from all the influences that too easily captivate us, and we can re-attach ourselves rightly to God alone. Utilize the following commentary to help you understand the biblical text and how it guides us to a Christian understanding of ministry, retreat, and seclusion.

Passage Outline

Taking Retreat

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.

Solitude sometimes is best society and short retirement urges sweet return.

Introduction

God desires intimacy with his people. The work of Christ on the cross restores sinners to a relationship with God. Reconciled to God, Christ’s disciples follow God’s commands and serve God’s purposes in the world. This life of faithful obedience and selfless mission can become tiresome and demanding. To follow Christ wherever he leads is to embrace a life of sacrifice, self-denial, and surrender. Indeed, this is the path to a meaningful and substantive Christian life. But God is not an exploitative despot. God does not indenture us to his service without regard for our well-being. Inherent in God’s invitation to trust and serve him is a promise of intimacy, rest, and covenant relationship. These promises are realized in God’s very presence. Learning to abide in God’s presence becomes fundamental to joy and endurance in the disciple’s life. The spiritual practice of retreat is an open invitation to experience God’s rest-giving presence.

Our world is not so cordial to the ideal of rest or the spiritual practice of retreat. The seeming omnipresence of technology can be a haunting bane to silence and solitude. In an ever-connected world, social media absorbs our digital attention, eroding our ability to cultivate authentic connections with people. A life of constant noise hinders our capacity to listen to God’s voice or understand our own patterns of thought. Advertising and marketing profiteer off of humanity, ruthlessly vying for our attention and focus. We too soon settle into a life experience of constant unrest, disconnected from meaningful relationships and depleted in our inner person. Too easily we can drift into the chaotic seas of congested lives—crowded with possessions, conflicted with fleshly ambitions, codependent in our relationships, absorbed with job responsibilities, consumed by children’s needs, and overwhelmed by ministry demands. Suddenly, we can drift from intimate fellowship with God. Thankfully, the Scriptures address the challenges to a life of rest, commending to us the spiritual practice of retreat. We turn to a Gospel narrative to find help and guidance in this very important area of life.

In Mark 6:30–56, Jesus commends the spiritual practice of seclusion and retreat through instruction, invitation, and example. In this narrative, Jesus called his weary and overburdened disciples to withdraw to a solitary place to rest from a long and depleting period of ministry. A large crowd gathered ahead of Jesus and his disciples, interrupting their time of rest and refreshment. Teaching his disciples about his sufficiency as well as nourishing the hungry crowd, Jesus miraculously fed an enormous crowd with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. After this extraordinary provision, Jesus sent his disciples across the lake while he went to the mountain to pray. When Jesus saw the disciples struggling to cross the wind-tossed seas, he walked on the water, revealed himself to his disciples, and calmed the wind. After arriving on shore, more crowds of people gathered to meet Jesus, seeking his divine healing.

In this scriptural account, Jesus teaches us about the importance of solitude, seclusion, and retreat. He privately retreated to the mountain for a time of prayer. He also summoned his disciples to a small-group retreat. Amazingly, Jesus even provided calm and rest in the midst of tumultuous seas. A master at balancing the inner life and ministry, Jesus prioritized times of rest but remained flexible to care for the needs of others. He demonstrated heartfelt compassion and appropriately dismissed crowds. Jesus’ life was one of exemplary wisdom, forbearance, and focus. Out of the intimacy of Jesus’ relationship with God the Father, he walked in obedience, taught the truth, and ministered to others. The miraculous provision of food and the extraordinary feat of walking on water highlight Jesus as the key to a life of rest and calm. May we attend to Jesus’ words, heed Jesus’ example, and rightly understand Jesus’ identity. As we study this text, may we accept the open invitation to intimacy with God modeled and effectuated by Jesus Christ.

Come Away with Me: Accepting Jesus’ Offer of Rest

Biblical Narrative (Mark 6:30–32)

At the beginning of this narrative, Jesus’ disciples “gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught” (6:30). That the disciples were called “apostles” (6:30) at the beginning of the story emphasizes their role as itinerant servants of Christ, traveling to various places to minister to others. The disciples’ ministry update summarized their mission ventures in two broad categories: deeds and teachings. Both of these activities were demanding and required deep trust in Christ. Inasmuch as the previous season of ministry was an encouraging demonstration of Christ’s power, it was also a heavy burden. Jesus’ ministry apprentices learned his way of caring for others and courageously served God’s kingdom cause with sacrificial devotion. Sent in pairs on a healing and preaching mission, the apostles bore the weight of human demands and an itinerant lifestyle (cf. 6:7–13). They even ministered at the risk of their lives. Herod, the Roman political leader who had John the Baptist beheaded (cf. 6:17–29), received news of the ministry success of Jesus’ apostles (cf. 6:14–16). Jesus’ disciples had embraced the risk and sacrifice involved in following their Lord. They had experienced exhaustion from their immersion in mission work. The threat of Herod likely presented a cause for concern or anxiety. When the disciples returned to Jesus to give their ministry report, Christ’s servants had experienced physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual depletion.

To his band of beleaguered disciples, Jesus responded with a timely invitation: “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while” (6:31). Jesus’ words offered relief and respite to his tired and taxed followers. Nevertheless, when the apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry venture, they did not leave the busyness of the ministry behind them. They returned to a scene bustling with activity. At that time, “many people were coming and going,” to the point that “they did not even have time to eat” (6:31). True to life, the ending of one ministry season gave way to another. Therefore, the opportunity for a retreat seemed not only appropriate for their current condition, but in Jesus’ mind, it was also a great moment to teach them a vital lesson about the sustenance of their future ministry. Agreeing to Jesus’ invitation, and perhaps finding it a refreshing offer, “they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place” (6:32).

Biblical Principles

Context of Ministry. Jesus’ invitation for his disciples to join him on a retreat comes in the midst of an active and demanding season of ministry. The introduction of Jesus’ followers as apostles draws attention to this point. While the more typical term “disciples” (6:35; cf. 6:1, 41, 45) refers to those who devote themselves to following Jesus in faith and surrender, the term “apostles” (6:30) connotes those servants Jesus has sent out on mission as his kingdom emissaries. Disciples are Christ’s apprentices in faith, life, and service; apostles are Christ’s ministry representatives in word and deed. The terms are not contradictory; rather, they highlight the inseparable and interlocking aspects of spiritual life: cultivating our walk with the Lord and engaging in the Lord’s work. The subtle, yet significant, insertion of the term “apostles” at the beginning of this story emphasizes the ministry setting of this narrative and the ministry summons inherent in the Christian life.

The focus on ministry in this narrative is also evidenced by the text itself. That the disciples returned to Jesus and “brought Him news” (6:30) highlights the fact that the disciples had been in some other location and were now giving an update to Jesus about the events that transpired during their journey. Specifically, the disciples’ report was about “all they had done and taught” (6:30). All of this recalled the earlier commissioning of the twelve disciples, a mission assignment that involved travel, preaching the gospel, driving out demons, and healing the sick (cf. 6:7–12). In addition to the disciples’ own ministry ventures, Jesus himself was engaged in intense ministry work upon the return of the disciples. Jesus had grown quite famous by this time (cf. 6:14–15). Therefore, it is no surprise that large crowds surrounded Jesus and sought his help. In fact, the scene around Jesus was energetic, active, and bustling—“many people were coming and going” (6:31). The constant stream of ministry demands prevented the disciples and Jesus from eating. The disciples had completed their traveling ministry assignment only to be presented with new and fresh ministry demands by the needy throngs who came to Jesus.

Jesus’ invitation to retreat came to his disciples (and it comes to us) while they were (faithfully) engaged in his service. Following Christ is a whole-life endeavor. Heeding Jesus’ commands and fulfilling his commission is not without pressure, burden, and difficulty. Caring for others in need can be exhausting and depleting. To boldly proclaim the gospel is to encounter opposition, threat, and danger. The life of faith is a summons to entrust our well-being to God despite surrounding circumstances, however rigorous or formidable they may be. Unending need in the world could seduce us into a life of relentless activity. If not careful, obedience to Christ and ministry to others can inappropriately result in spiritual hyperactivity that leads to the neglect of our relationship with God. Following God in life and serving on his mission assignment should never be injurious to communion with God. In fact, the opposite should be the case. The taxing demands of ministry should lead us back into the presence of Christ. Only out of the wellspring of a vibrant relationship with God do we find the energy to serve God in his work and heed his commands in a way that is beyond our finite capacity. In retreat and seclusion, we not only commune with God in his comforting presence, but we also find his open hand ready to supply our weak, frail, and depleted selves with his divine power.

Dynamics of Spiritual Retreat. Jesus’ invitation to his disciples richly supplies us with insight into the spiritual practice of seclusion and solitude. Inviting his disciples to retreat, Jesus summoned his followers out of a bustling ministry context to a time of personal communion with Jesus. The invitation “Come with Me” (6:31) is the same summons Jesus gave when he called his disciples to follow him (cf. Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17). Additionally, Jesus used this phrase when he spoke in a parable about his invitation to the wedding feast (cf. Matthew 22:24) and entrance into God’s kingdom (cf. Matthew 25:34). It is also the same offer that Jesus gave to the weary and heavy-laden, calling them to find rest by yoking themselves to him (cf. Matthew 11:28). Importantly, the resurrected Christ used this phrase as a hospitable invitation to his disciples on the shoreline of the Sea of Tiberias (cf. John 21:12). In addition, Jesus himself practiced the spiritual habit of retreat and seclusion on many occasions (cf. Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35–37; Luke 4:42–43; 5:16; 6:12). Put in this wider context, this simple invitation of “come” connotes Jesus’ summons for people to enter into relationship with him, to embrace his mission, to enter his eternal kingdom, and to receive care, rest, and sustenance in Jesus’ presence.

Jesus invited his disciples to come “privately” (6:32). That is, Jesus wanted his disciples to retreat with him away from the bustle of the crowds. This is a clear instance in which Jesus balanced ministry output with spiritual replenishment. This initial retreat in the story is not a call to individual seclusion and solitude. Later in the story, Jesus would model such a time of retreat as he went to a mountain by himself for a focused and individual time of communion with God the Father (6:46). At the beginning of the story, Jesus invited his followers into community seclusion, a small-group retreat. Jesus called his inner band of disciples to spend time as a community in seclusion away from the crowds in order to replenish themselves. Empathetic and all-knowing, Jesus was aware that they had recently experienced a depleting and taxing period of ministry.

The communal nature of this retreat is further accentuated by the destination to which Jesus summoned his followers. Jesus called his disciples to “a solitary place” (6:31). Although the specific location is unnamed, the characteristics of such a place are notable. This solitary place was an uninhabited wilderness, a more remote area where there would be fewer (or no) people. From the world’s perspective, such a place would not seem to offer a thriving and flourishing life. It was “a desolate place” (6:35), lacking means for sustenance and nourishment. Normal amenities would not naturally be available in such a place. Familiar life activities would not typically take place in such a location. In this way, for the disciples as well as for us, retreating with a small group of believers to a solitary place removes distractions, simplifies life, minimizes comforts, reorganizes priorities, and focuses attention on real life by temporarily taking us away from the regular rhythms and common resources of typical life.

In Jesus’ own words, he explained the objective of this time away in a solitary place: “let us rest” (6:31). The explicit purpose of this small-group retreat was for rejuvenation, refreshment, and reprieve. Certainly, people can retreat from normal life for many wrong and unhealthy reasons. We can wrongfully withdraw from life in order to escape difficult circumstances, conceal secret sin, avoid relational tension, or evade personal responsibility. Likewise, people can avoid spiritual retreat for equally wrong reasons. Knowing that retreat will cause us to honestly confront our spiritual condition, embrace our ministry calling, or mend broken relationships, many avoid this spiritual practice. On the contrary, a godly practice of spiritual retreat is commended to us as it was commanded of the disciples. Connoted in the broadest idea of biblical rest, the aims of godly retreat are to provide refreshment for the stressed and overworked, to facilitate revival for the worn and weary, to impart rejuvenation for the tired and discouraged, to foster restoration for the burdened and heavy-laden, and to encourage reconciliation for the estranged and alienated. Through spiritual retreat, Jesus offers rest and recovery to those who are physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually exhausted (cf. Matthew 11:28; Mark 14:41; 1 Corinthians 16:18; Philemon 7, 20; Revelation 14:13). The life of retreat is not indefinite. Jesus clearly called his disciples to a solitary place for “a while” (6:31). Jesus did not instruct his disciples to completely—or even partially—retire from public life or ministry service. He did not endorse total withdrawal from life’s hardships, burdens, or responsibilities. The small-group retreat to a solitary place was limited and time-bound. Temporary withdrawal from a busy life and intermittent pause from ministry demands are seasonally appropriate in order to prepare us for the next phase of mission or spiritual development. In this way, the spiritual practice of retreat and seclusion affords God’s people a sustainable mode of spiritual life and ministry engagement.

They All Ate Until They Were Satisfied: Learning About Jesus’ Sufficiency

Biblical Narrative (Mark 6:33–44)

Jesus’ small-group retreat was soon interrupted by a pursuing crowd. As Jesus and his disciples left the area by boat, “many people saw them leaving and recognized them” (6:33). The eager and informed throng followed Jesus and his disciples. In fact, people “ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them” (6:33). By this time, Jesus and his disciples had gained some public renown and favor. When Jesus and his disciples reached shore, “a large crowd” (6:34) had already gathered. Apart from a brief boat ride across the lake, the retreat was effectively suspended. Rather than venting frustration toward the large gathering, Jesus “had compassion” on the people “because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (6:34). The wandering, vulnerable, and endangered crowd moved Jesus to promptly minister to them. As such, Jesus “began to teach them many things” (6:34).

After some time of ministry to the needy throng, “the hour was already late” (6:35). Feeling underresourced to care for such a sizable gathering, the disciples asked Jesus to “dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat” (6:36). Jesus’ followers understood that the area was “a desolate place” (6:35) and did not have resources to care for the needs of the people. The limitations of the physical terrain did not concern Jesus. Rather than yielding to the disciples’ unsettled disquiet, Jesus used their present dilemma as a teaching moment. Jesus did not dismiss the crowd to secure their own means of nourishment; instead, he counseled the disciples to take responsibility for the needy crowd. Jesus told his followers to “give them something to eat” (6:37). In a mixture of unbelief and protest, the disciples expressed concern over the size of the people and the cost of meeting their needs (6:37).

While the disciples fixated on their lack of resources, Jesus drew their attention to what they had in their possession. He asked them to take inventory of the bread they had in their possession (6:38). The disciples reported to Jesus that they had five loaves of bread and two fish (6:38). The crowd was made up of “five thousand men” (6:44), which means it would have been significantly larger when factoring in the women and children present. From the disciples’ vantage point, their modest supply of bread and fish was clearly not enough food to feed an enormous crowd. It may not have even been enough to satisfy the hunger of the band of disciples. Nevertheless, Jesus instructed the disciples to arrange the crowd to sit down in groups (6:39). After the people sat down “in groups of hundreds and fifties” (6:40), Jesus performed an unforgettable miracle. He took a meager food supply of bread and fish and gave thanks to God (6:41). He then broke the bread and divided the fish, instructing his disciples to distribute the food to the people (6:41). Amazingly, the entire crowd ate to their fill: “they all ate and were satisfied” (6:42). So much food had been provided by Jesus’ extraordinary provision that there was considerably more food at the end of the meal than at the beginning—“the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish” (6:42).

Biblical Principles

Scarcity, Lack, and Insufficiency. In the wilderness and surrounded by a hungry crowd, the disciples were confronted with their apparent deficiency of resources. Fixation on their material lack caused the disciples to view their current circumstances as a formidable predicament. That their initial words to Jesus expressed concern over the desolateness of the place and the lateness of the hour (6:35) highlights this preoccupation. Regardless of the miracles they had witnessed and experienced in the past, the disciples could not presently envision a way to care for such a considerable throng of needy people. After all, the disciples themselves were needy and depleted. How could they care for such a crowd when they were depleted themselves? Consequently, the taxed and weary disciples wanted the crowd to “buy themselves something to eat” (6:36). Hear in these words a desire to be relieved of any responsibility to care for the hungry gathering. While the disciples expressed concern that the people were properly taken care of, they no longer wanted to bear the weight of tending to their needs. When Jesus assigned his disciples the responsibility to feed the crowd (6:37), his’ exasperated cadre of apprentices again lamented their lack of resources. Not only did they protest spending “two hundred denarii” (6:37)—a quantity of about two hundred days’ wage, which the disciples most likely did not have in their possession—they were also burdened by the size of the crowd. Jesus’ followers were profoundly aware of their material lack when they reported to Jesus that they only had five loaves of bread and two fish in their possession. The disciples’ desire to dismiss the crowd (6:35–37) was in direct contrast to Jesus’ compassionate concern for them (6:34). Not only did the disciples confront their material lack, but they also faced their spiritual immaturity.

Seclusion and retreat afford the opportunity to recognize our scarcity, lack, and insufficiency. Counterintuitive to the natural man, honestly acknowledging our weakness, deficiency, and inadequacy is to our great spiritual advantage. Too easily, believers in all social and economic positions can become reliant upon their possessions. We can naively think that material plenty makes us better off in our spiritual condition and ministry capacity. We can worry and panic over incessant ministry demands and inadequate personal resources. Inordinate attachment to our resources actually limits our ability to grow in the faith and handicaps a ministry meant to be done in Christ’s power. Spiritual retreat helps to detach us from our possessions, embracing our material lack as an opportunity to experience God’s bountiful supply. Even as Jesus invited the disciples to take inventory of their resources, so does God call us to regularly take inventory of our spiritual life and ministry, evaluating where we truly put our trust and confidence. Taking time to retreat into a solitary and desolate place reinforces the reality of our complete dependence upon God, the neediness of those around us, and God’s abundant provision for our needs.

Divine Provision and Christ’s Sufficiency. Christ’s sufficiency is evident in this miracle: invoking a blessing (6:41), feeding the whole crowd (6:41–42, 44) until they were satisfied (6:42), and gathering more food supply after the miracle than was available before it (6:43). These textual details show Jesus’ complete sufficiency in the face of human lack. In fact, these aspects of this historical narrative highlight that Jesus can (and often does) supply abundantly more than is needed. God is rich in his resources, bountiful in his provision, and generous to his people. We often exclude ourselves from God’s blessings when we fixate on our personal possessions (and forget that anything we own is a gift from God) with anxiety, concern, or fear. Inasmuch as the invitation to spiritual retreat is to confront our lack, this most precious spiritual practice is also a means of experiencing Jesus’ timely provision, divine blessing, and bountiful supply. The difficulty of the ministry circumstances, the fatigue of the overtaxed disciples, and the shortage of material resources are all meant to converge upon this enduring theological and practical teaching: Jesus alone is enough for any and all circumstances in life and ministry.

When we are honest about our inadequacy and the immensity of the ministry calling, we are in a prime position to experience Jesus’ sufficiency. This was not only the position in which the disciples found themselves in this desolate place, but it is also true to our own journey of faith in the wilderness of this life. Jesus’ instruction for the disciples to count their food provisions was not only a matter of confronting them with their lack, but it was also a means of inviting them to participate in his work. That Jesus performed his miraculous provision with the disciples’ meager provisions—when he clearly did not need them or their food—highlights the fact that Jesus is as concerned with our formation in the faith as our service in his work. To encounter Jesus’ sufficiency as a recipient and to experience Jesus’ adequacy as his representative both galvanize our faith. Although we are not indispensable to God’s work, he considers our spiritual maturity and ministry engagement as inseparably interconnected. God ever invites us into ministry that is beyond our individual or collective capacity to show that any and all ministry fruit is due to the divine provision of Christ’s abundant supply. Understanding this spiritual dynamic of the Christian faith is essential to our Christian formation, inviting us to cherish Jesus’ presence and emulate Jesus’ example.

On Again, Off Again: Meeting Jesus in Unlikely Places

Biblical Narrative (Mark 6:45–46)

After a supernatural feeding of a hungry crowd, Jesus “made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida” (6:45). This journey across the lake would give the disciples another brief respite from the tiring demands of ministry, but it would come in a form they did not anticipate. Meanwhile, Jesus himself “dismissed the crowd” (6:45) and then “went up on the mountain to pray” (6:46). In this twofold act, Jesus relieved his disciples of the important ministry work of “bidding [the crowd] farewell” (6:46). He also modeled the practice of personal retreat, prioritizing his own relationship with God the Father—“Jesus was alone on land” (6:47)—in a time of mountainside prayer.

After these final events of the day, it was evening. An interrupted retreat followed by an elongated time of ministry, the tiresome day had come to an end. That night on the boat would prove to be an unforgettable encounter with Christ. Jesus was alone on land while the disciples were out at sea (6:47). From the land, Jesus “could see that the disciples were straining to row because the wind was against them” (6:48). The stress of the demanding crowds was now replaced by the pressure of the forceful wind. Their busy day of ministry was now followed by an arduous night at sea. Finally, at “the fourth watch of the night”—sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 am—Jesus visited his disciples on the sea. But Jesus did not take a boat to meet his struggling followers. Instead, Jesus “went out to them, walking on the sea” (6:48). Clearly performing another miracle before his disciples, Jesus “intended to pass by them” (6:48). Before Jesus could pass the boat, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and cried out in terror (6:50), “thinking He was a ghost” (6:49).

Immediately, Jesus addressed his frightened disciples. He offered them comforting words: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” (6:50). Jesus got into the boat with his disciples, and “the wind died down” (6:51). When this happened, Jesus’ disciples were “utterly astounded” (6:51). Unfortunately, their amazement did not translate into faith or understanding at that time. They had not fully learned the spiritual lessons from the feeding of the five thousand. Their lack of understanding about Jesus’ provision amounted to a spiritual ignorance in which “their hearts had been hardened” (6:52).

Biblical Principles

Personal Retreat. Jesus’ time of prayer on the mountain is a clear instance of personal retreat and seclusion at an individual level. Although small-group retreats with God’s people must remain an important part of our faith formation, we must also consider opportunities for individual retreat in order to spend time alone with the Lord. This is modeled with exemplary care by Jesus himself. While Jesus cared for the crowd that interrupted the small-group retreat with his disciples, he did not allow the people to remain with him indefinitely. He sent the crowd away (6:45–46) and “went up on the mountain to pray” (6:46). Just like the solitary place of the wilderness (6:31, 35) could provide a secluded place for rest and refreshment, the mountain offered a remote place removed from the commotion and crowds of normal life and ministry. Such a location provided Jesus with an undistracted setting to commune with God the Father.

Cultivating our personal relationship with the Lord is of crucial importance. While we must not neglect retreat with other believers, we must also aim to commune with God as individuals. This will not only mean time away from the crowds but also time away from other disciples. Personal times of prayer sustain us for the work in ministry as they also mature us in the faith. The edification we gain from personal communion with the Lord equips us to be an encouragement to other believers and an effective emissary of God’s kingdom work. If Jesus, the perfect, all-sufficient Son, took time for individual communion with God the Father, much more is this practice commended to us.

Jesus’ Presence. After his planned retreat with his disciples was interrupted by the feeding of the crowd, Jesus sent his disciples on a revised retreat back across the lake. The text gives the impression that the disciples did not easily or naturally part ways with the crowd as “Jesus made His disciples get into the boat” (6:45). Could it be that the disciples wanted to linger among the crowd because of the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm that would likely have surrounded Jesus’ miracle? Regardless of the reasons behind their hesitation, Jesus’ disciples left the height of a ministry success only to experience the difficult conditions of windy seas. During this voyage, Christ’s followers fought against the wind to once again cross the lake. So difficult was the condition at sea that the disciples “were straining to row” (6:48). These conditions lasted for some time. When Jesus visited them in the very early morning hours, the windy seas were still in full force (6:48, 51). The difficulty and threatening conditions on the tempestuous waters were only quelled by the presence of Christ. His words of comfort—“Take courage” and “Do not be afraid”—were based upon the fact that Jesus was with them—“It is I” (6:50). Only when Jesus got into the boat did the winds cease (6:51). In this narrative, the disciples were ignorant of Jesus’ identity (6:48–50) and clueless about the meaning of his feeding miracle (6:51–52). In fact, the crowds of people seemed more able to recognize Jesus than the disciples did (6:33, 54). The direct result of such spiritual unawareness is fear (6:50). The hardness of their hearts—not the windiness of the seas—handicapped their experience of rest, peace, and calm and replaced it with terror, uncertainty, and panic.

The disciples’ lack of understanding is a warning to us. This part of the narrative highlights the rest-giving presence of Christ as it confronts the disciples’ lack of spiritual perception. Once again, the disciples’ fixation on their surrounding circumstances dulled their trust in Jesus’ enabling power and sustaining presence. Jesus can overcome any turbulence, trial, or tribulation. No need is beyond his capacity. The presence of Christ allows for spiritual rest and inner calm, no matter the chaos of the crowd or the storminess of the seas. In fact, spiritual retreat can even happen when it does not seem possible to physically get away from the crowd or when one is stranded on storm-tossed waters. The plans for retreat, which began in a journey to the desolate wilderness, eventually led to an encounter with Christ on the chaotic waters of the sea. Jesus brought his disciples into two seemingly uninhabitable places—a desert and a windy sea—to convince them that God is their rich and plentiful habitation, their rest-giving and peace-sustaining dwelling place in all circumstances.

Inasmuch as this passage warns us against inordinate dependence on our external circumstances, it also elevates the importance and incomparability of Jesus’ presence. To truly know Jesus—to not mistake his presence for a ghost (6:49)—and to abide in his presence is to find calm, rest, and reprieve in any and all circumstances. While life’s situations constantly change and while plans are frequently altered, the steady and constant presence of Christ enables us to find rest in intentional moments of retreat, and it empowers us to sustain calm and comfort in the middle of life’s most violent upheavals. To discover Jesus’ declaration, “It is I,” enables us to face any circumstance with dauntless courage and fearless trust.

Wherever They Heard He Was: Extending Ourselves for the Well-Being of Others

Biblical Narrative (Mark 6:53–56)

Although Jesus’ presence suddenly calmed the windy seas, the flurry of ministry needs did not cease. After Jesus and his disciples “crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat” (6:53). Immediately after disembarking from the boat, Jesus and his disciples were surrounded by another crowd. The people in that area “recognized Jesus” (6:54). Hopeful and expectant, people “ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was” (6:55). Everywhere Jesus traveled—“villages and towns and countrysides” (6:56)—people brought sick people to Jesus to get healed. In fact, the crowds’ confidence in Jesus’ wonder-working power was so great that they “begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak” (6:56). Simply by touching Jesus, people were healed of their diseases (6:56).

Biblical Principles

Back-and-Forth Spirituality. The overall plot of this narrative records repeated trips across the sea punctuated by intervening moments of ministry. After ministering to large groups of people (6:30–31), the disciples traveled by boat to a solitary place (6:31–32). Upon their arrival, Jesus and his disciples fed a crowd of five thousand (6:33–42). Then, the disciples traveled by boat ahead of Jesus (6:45–46). After Jesus joined his disciples in the boat (6:47–52), they crossed over the lake (6:53) only to minister to the crowds in that location (6:54–56). The back-and-forth nature of this narrative is instructive. Not only did the disciples travel across the lake, but they also moved in and out of contexts of ministry service and spiritual formation. Moreover, the various kinds of retreat in this story highlight both the individual and communal dynamics of the Christian life: personal solitude and small-group retreat. This back-and-forth, in-and-out dynamic is a fitting depiction of the Christian life. Most of life is not sequential. Life and ministry take place as a journey with Christ and his people. Ministry demands rarely stop. Times of planned retreat will get interrupted. We must faithfully attend to both personal and community concerns. Learning to abide in God’s presence in times of both ease and tumult is essential. We meet the unpredictability of life with the constancy of Jesus’ presence. Sometimes we will feel prepared for ministry opportunities; many times we will feel ill-equipped for the task before us. At all moments, we can discover Jesus’ sufficiency as we rest in his presence and serve his purposes with a heart of faithful devotion.

Jesus at the Center. The ending of this narrative clearly shows Jesus as the central focus. While the disciples concentrated on the difficulty of their surrounding circumstances or on the inadequacy of their personal resources, the crowds gravitated to Jesus because they knew of his life-altering power and his healing touch. Overwhelming in this narrative’s ending (and across the story as a whole) is the importance of proximity to Jesus and perception of his real identity. The people readily and repeatedly recognized Jesus (6:33, 54). The sick, needy, and desperate were all oriented toward Jesus, even carrying people to Jesus who could not get to him themselves (6:55–56). Rather than questioning Jesus’ ability, the people brought others to Jesus with haste (6:55), pleaded for his healing (6:56), and touched him with confidence that they would be healed (6:56). The phrases “wherever they heard He was” (6:55), “wherever He went” (6:56), and “all who touched Him” (6:56) capture the essence of Jesus at the center: the well-being of one’s life is determined by orientation toward and proximity to Jesus.

For Christians of all generations and cultures, the life of faith amounts to proximity to Jesus. It is easy to get distracted and disoriented in life. Troubles can discourage. Circumstances can stir doubt. Fear can consume. Our own inabilities and weaknesses can demoralize us. The constancy of Jesus enables us to overcome any and all obstacles and challenges. Learning to trust his healing power, abide in his comforting presence, follow his faithful lead, and emulate his perfect example is foundational to the life of faith. As the spiritual practice of retreat and seclusion enables us to minimize distractions, these practices also help us to cultivate a personal nearness to Christ in all life circumstances, even as we participate in Christ’s work for others around us.

Conclusion

In this narrative, Jesus prioritized, commended, exemplified, and demonstrated the importance of the spiritual practice of retreat. This Christian discipline is a crucial habit to cultivate intimacy with God, strengthen our faith in Christ, and sustain us in ministry service. Jesus’ invitation for his disciples to retreat to a solitary place highlights Jesus’ concern for their spiritual well-being. Jesus’ flexibility in ministering to the large crowd when they had interrupted the disciples’ retreat powerfully showcases Jesus’ ability to sustain, nourish, and fill his people despite the apparent obstacles of human lack and limitation. The brief mention of Jesus’ mountain prayer encourages us to spend time alone with God in prayer. When he walked on the water, Jesus offered his very presence to his disciples as the source of their calm and rest. At the end of the narrative, ministry to the needy continued, emphasizing the central importance of Jesus to our spiritual well-being.

Importantly, Jesus did not match the frenzy of the crowd with a frantic ministry. He both responded compassionately to those in need and dismissed the crowd when necessary. He allowed the crowds to be near him and also retreated to the mountain alone for a time of prayer. He balanced ministry to the crowds and times of repose and refreshment. Jesus enjoyed fellowship with his disciples and communed with God the Father. The details of this story instruct us in our faith. In practicing seclusion and solitude, we part ways with the world in order to better serve it in the long-term. Spiritual retreat offers rest in the midst of high-pressure ministry and the intense demands of life. The practice of spiritual retreat can expand our capacity to serve God and cultivate our lives with God. Learning to abide in God’s presence, we must learn to incorporate this practice into our lives. In so doing, we accept God’s open invitation to enjoy timely reprieve, intimate communion, abundant provision, enduring peace, and the healing touch of Jesus in our lives.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 3 SYNOPSIS
Solitude and Retreat	In this passage, Jesus models and commends the spiritual practices of solitude and retreat. After their long and taxing ministry tour, Jesus invited his disciples to retreat for a time of rest. They traveled across the lake and were met by a large crowd, to whom Jesus ministered with a miraculous feeding. Jesus sent his disciples across the lake, and he went alone to the mountain to pray. When the disciples’ boat was caught in the windy seas, Jesus miraculously met his disciples by walking on the water. When they arrived on the other side, Jesus continued to minister to the needy crowds. This narrative recounts the importance of retreat, solitude, and seclusion in the spiritual life. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Spiritual Retreat	Spiritual retreat helps to sustain God’s people in the work of ministry. Jesus ministered to the needy crowds (6:33–43, 53–56) with compassion (6:34). Jesus’ disciples were also involved in the ministry (6:30). Being with Jesus (3:14; 6:31, 50–51, 54–56) enables us to work for Jesus (6:37).
Types of Spiritual Retreat	God wants his people to experience rest in different ways. In this narrative, Jesus called his disciples to a small-group retreat in the wilderness (6:30–32). He demonstrated his sufficiency by ministering to needy crowds (6:33–44, 53–56). He modeled personal retreat in his mountaintop prayer (6:45–46). He revealed himself to his disciples on the stormy seas (6:47–52). These examples can help us practice different kinds of retreat in our Christian life.
Engagement and Disengagement	Jesus and disciples went back and forth from engaging (6:7–13, 33–44, 53–56) to disengaging (6:30–32, 45–46, 47–52). The disciples’ work was interrupted with rest (6:30–32), and the disciples’ rest was interrupted with work (6:33–36). The Christian life is a matter of balance, rhythm, and flexibility to unexpectedly shift between ministry and rest.
Communion with God and God’s People	Solitude and rest provide an opportunity to commune with God (6:31, 46, 50) and God’s people (6:31, 45).
Blessings and Byproducts of Retreat and Solitude	When we practice retreat and solitude we can cultivate rest (6:30), compassion (6:34), responsibility (6:35–36), blessing (6:41), satisfaction (6:42), abundance (6:43–44), intimacy (6:45–46), peace (6:49–50), awe (6:51), sensitivity (6:52), and ministry engagement (6:53–56). The narrative depicts many “transformations” (literary changes in setting, circumstance, and characters) that take place: desolate place (6:31, 32, 35) to green grass (6:31, 39); busy, great crowd (6:34) to ordered group (6:39); little resources (6:38) to abundance of food (6:41–44); stormy sea (6:48) to calm sea (6:51); sick (6:55) to healed (6:66); and weary (6:30) to rested (6:31). Jesus is the one who brings about these changes.
Jesus’ Centrality and Identity	This story tells about the crowds who recognize Jesus (6:33, 54) and the disciples who follow Christ but do not fully recognize who he is (6:35–37, 49–50). In this narrative, the crowds are fully oriented toward Jesus (6:31, 34, 55–56). This narrative teaches us about Jesus’ compassion (6:34), sufficiency (6:38–43), presence (6:50–52), and power (6:53–56). Solitude and retreat help to grow our understanding of Jesus and our full trust in Jesus.

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Practice Solitude

Plan a moment of seclusion and solitude. Identify a place (park, trail, woods, room, etc.) where you can find a place to be alone. Use this time and space to abide in God’s presence, envision what it looks like to embed regular rhythms of retreat into your life, and think about what mission venture he is preparing you for.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.