Mark 6:32

Nay they followed him, though it was into a desert place, despicable and inconvenient. The presence of Christ will turn a wilderness into a paradise. The entertainment Christ gave them (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

See this narrative explained in the notes at Mat 14:13-21. Mar 6:32 By ship - By a boat or a small vessel. Privately - Without making their plan known. They intended to go privately. It appears, however, that their intention became known, and multitudes followed them. Mar 6:33 Afoot thither - On foot to the place where they saw them going. Out of all cities - All cities or large towns in the neighborhood. Mar 6:34 Much people ...as sheep ... - They had no one to teach them and guide them.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately--"over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias," says John (Joh 6:1), the only one of the Evangelists who so fully describes it; the others having written when their readers were supposed to know something of it, while the last wrote for those at a greater distance of time and place.

Let us mark in this passage, the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers . We read that they "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." These words are deeply instructive. They are a bright example to all ministers of the Gospel, and to all laborers in the great work of doing good to souls. All such should daily do as the apostles did on this occasion. They should tell all their proceedings to the great Head of the Church.

Let us mark in this passage, the conduct of the apostles when they returned from their first mission as preachers . We read that they "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." These words are deeply instructive. They are a bright example to all ministers of the Gospel, and to all laborers in the great work of doing good to souls. All such should daily do as the apostles did on this occasion. They should tell all their proceedings to the great Head of the Church. They should spread all their work before Christ, and ask of Him counsel, guidance, strength, and help. Prayer is the main secret of success in spiritual business. It moves Him who can move heaven and earth. It brings down the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, without whom the finest sermons, the clearest teaching, and the most diligent labors, are all alike in vain. It is not always those who have the most eminent gifts who are most successful laborers for God. It is generally those who keep up closest communion with Christ and are most constant in prayer. It is those who cry with the prophet Ezekiel, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live." (Ezek. 37:9.) It is those who follow most exactly the apostolic model, and "give themselves to prayer, and the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4.) Happy is that church which has a praying as well as a preaching ministry! The question we should ask about a new minister, is not merely "Can he preach well?" but "Does he pray much for his people and his work?" Let us mark, in the second place, the words of our Lord to the apostles, when they returned from their first public ministry . Jesus said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." These words are full of tender consideration.