“A Special Invitation”
Mark 6:31

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost—July 19, 2015

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

Our text is today’s Gospel Reading, especially this verse, “A Special Invitation” of Jesus: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

In today’s Gospel Reading, Jesus and the apostles were very busy, really too busy, overwhelmed by all the demands thrust upon them.  The apostles had just returned from an intense missionary tour.  They gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  But, so many others were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat.  So, Jesus gives the apostles “A Special Invitation”:  “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Jesus and the apostles were very busy, really too busy, overwhelmed by all the demands thrust upon them.  Is that how you feel sometimes?  Too much to do, and not enough time to do it?  People pulling you every which way?  Really too busy, overwhelmed by all the demands thrust upon you? 

Jesus knows exactly how you feel, for although he was divine, he was also human.  According to his human nature, EVEN Jesus felt the weariness of all the constant pressure.  Jesus felt it in himself, and saw it in the apostles.  So, Jesus gives “A Special Invitation” to the apostles and “A Special Invitation” to you, too.  “A Special Invitation” that is like a prescription for you from the Physician of souls, a prescription for your fatigue, your exhaustion, your weariness:  “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 

Come with Jesus to the quiet place of prayer; come with Jesus to encounter him in his word; come with Jesus to worship him here in his house on the day of rest; come with Jesus to eat and drink for your spiritual refreshment at his holy table.

“A wonderful idea, pastor, if only I had the time.”  We think we’re just too busy.  But, friend, are you really too busy for Jesus, are you really too busy to accept his special invitation—or is it a matter of priorities?  The fact is, even though our lives are very busy, we nevertheless seem to find the time for all sorts of other endeavors, we seem to find the time for all sorts of other people.  Who is it that so often loses out?  Who is it that we so often put last?  The very One we should be putting first in our lives, first in our priorities.

“Come unto me,” Jesus says, “all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. . . you will find rest for your souls.”  Jesus waits for you with open arms.  Jesus loves you so much that he died for you, to earn you a place in his Father’s kingdom.  Jesus forgives you all your sins, and he invites you to come and find peace in him.  As St. Paul says in today’s Epistle Reading, “In Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace.”

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit in prayer.  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known unto God.”  “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  “Take it to the Lord in prayer.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit in prayer. 

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by encountering him in his word:  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  “Take up . . .  the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”  Inject the “power of God” into your life, take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by encountering him in his word.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by worshipping him here in his house on the day of rest:  “I rejoiced with those who said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”  “Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  “O come, let us worship the Lord.”  “Remember the Sabbath day.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by worshipping him here in his house on the day of rest.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by coming to his altar, to his Holy Supper:  “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”  “This do in remembrance of me.”  “I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.”  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by coming to his altar, to his Holy Supper.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  A few days ago they finally broke ground for a memorial in Kansas City for victims of one of the worst structural engineering failures in modern times.  On July 17, 1981 the lobby of a brand new hotel was crowded for a popular weekly dance, when a skywalk running through the lobby collapsed.  That disaster was caused by improper installation of the skywalk resulting in a phenomenon called “metal fatigue.”  If you put too much pressure on a piece of metal, without the proper support, it will wear out and snap. 

Right now are you suffering from “soul fatigue,” putting on too much pressure, without the proper spiritual support?  Jesus gives you “A Special Invitation” that is like a prescription for you from the Physician of souls, a prescription to prevent “soul fatigue.” 

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Before you wear out and snap, take time with Jesus.  Take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit in the quiet place of prayer; take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by encountering him in his word; take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by worshipping him here in his house on the day of rest; take time with Jesus to rest and rejuvenate your spirit by eating and drinking for your spiritual refreshment at his holy table. 

Accept his special invitation to YOU: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”