A Teacher Bible Study: I Need A Break!

“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with COMPASSION…”  Colossians 3:12

First Things First:  Read Mark 6:30-44 and pray for God to show you times when you allowed tiredness or exhaustion to be an excuse to not do what’s right.

Have you ever been in charge of a huge event?  Even if the event runs smoothly and is executed beautifully, there is still a level of exhaustion that hits you after it’s over.  WHAM!  You feel like you’ve been hit by a truck as mental fog and physical draining ensues.  And did this event involve travel?  Oh how Dorothy couldn’t have described it any better than with the iconic words, “There’s no place like home.”  You just want to fall face flat into your bed and not see anyone again until morning.

This is how Jesus and the disciples were feeling.  They have had big ministry events one right after the other.  They were desperate for rest.  They needed a quiet place to relax before gearing up to hit the road again.  I can see them climbing into the boat, excited for a few restful moments at sea.  They imagine calm waves gently swaying the side of the boat, just enough movement to rock them to sleep…

But then one of the disciples notices a crowd of people walking on foot.  It looks like the crowd is going to beat them to the restful location!  What?!  We’re trying to get AWAY from the crowd!

“But Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on them… He began teaching them many things.” 

Even though He was completely spent.

Even though He just needed a few minutes to relax.

Even though His brainpower was just about to reach it’s limit. (Remember He was fully God but He was also fully man.  He could get spent/exhausted/worn out too!)

But what did He do?  He showed compassion.

As a teacher, have you ever taught exhausting lessons that required every ounce of energy in your body’s reserve?  You have explained, showed, danced, manipulated, drew, and every other verb that explains a topic.  Your brainpower is COMPLETELY SPENT.  When your glorious planning period finally rolls around, all you want is to sit down in the SILENCE for just a moment.

But what happens?  Someone is at your door.  Wanting to talk to you.  Needing you to do something for them.  DURING YOUR BREAK.

Don’t you just want to scream?!  WHAT DO YOU WANT?!  IT’S MY BREAK!  I’VE EARNED THIS!  I’VE WORKED SO HARD!

But Jesus teaches us to respond with compassion.  No matter how tired we are, no matter how spent we feel---we are to respond in complete and total compassion. 

When you are at the end of your rope, do you respond in compassion?

When you have explained that topic to that child FIFTEEN BILLION TIMES, do you give up or do you try for fifteen billion ONE times?

Jesus says the sheep had no shepherd so He began teaching them things. He saw their need for teaching, He fulfilled it.  He saw their need for food, He supplied it.  

Moral of the story?  
He saw.  
So He did it.  
His own emotions, feelings, and tiredness were not excuses to be used.  In His ultimate humility, He said to Himself, “I am tired but they are worth more than my rest.”

Are your students worth more than your rest?  

Are your fellow faculty members worth more than your rest?  

Follow the example of Christ and show compassion on them today.

Classroom Connections and Life Applications:

1.       In what ways are you guilty of using your tiredness as an excuse to not talk to someone/work with a student/etc? 

2.       This lesson by NO MEANS says you should never rest.  Adequate rest is essential in a healthy life!  But there ARE times that we could give up our planning period to work with a child one-on-one or to help a struggling colleague instead of closing ourselves in our classrooms.  What is a way you can show COMPASSION this week instead of being focused on just getting your rest?

3.       Describe a time when you were exhausted but still gave of yourself and CHRIST gave you the strength/energy to complete the mission He had laid out for you.