Mark 6:29-34

²⁹ When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. ³⁰ Then the apostles gathered around Jesus again, and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a little.” Because many were coming and going, and they had no free time even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. ³⁴ As he went ashore, he saw a large crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he started teaching them many things.

he chose to continue

In his deep sorrow, our Lord looked around him. And what he saw was the crowds that had followed him. He couldn’t get away from it all – because people needed him. When he needed time for emotional healing – the crowds kept seeking him for physical healing. But he didn’t send them away. He had every right to. He was not obligated by any law of man or God to continue working that day.

But he chose to continue. He put others’ needs above his own sorrow. He allowed compassion to change his course. That is our Saviour. He came to serve, not to be served. Matthew tells us that two great miracles happened that day. Jesus fed the 5000, and he walked on water. But perhaps the greatest miracle of all was our Lord’s decision to do ministry even in his own grief.

LORD, fill us with your compassion for the needy. When we face tragedy and disappointment, may we find strength to stay committed to ministry to others.