Ministry and Rest – Luke 5:12-16

In her article, There Are 3 Different Types of Burnout — These Are the Signs to Look Out for, Cory Stieg writes, “When people think about “burnout,” they often assume it means you’re overbooked and exhausted — but burnout is far more nuanced than just being busy or overwhelmed…burnout [is] a syndrome that results from chronic workplace stress that’s not successfully managed.”  Of course, burnout is not limited to workplace stress only.

While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.  (Luke 5:12-16 ESV)

What an amazing Savior we have!  If someone came to you and told you they had Ebola or staphylococcus or some other disease communicable by touch, and asked for healing, and you had the power to heal them, I’m sure you would do so.  But would you touch them?  Jesus did.  He touched the man afflicted with leprosy, giving him the gift of touch as well as healing.

Jesus’ authority in the power of the Holy Spirit is evident here in that he simply commands, “Be clean,” and immediately it happens.  The Law of Moses required someone with leprosy to be pronounced clean by the priests and to offer a sacrifice as part of the process.  So Jesus tells the man to comply with the Law but then to tell no one but the priest. 

Jesus then is seeking to manage the hysteria developing around him that is potentially preventing him from publicly spending as much time teaching in the towns of Israel.  He and his disciples needed time apart to pray and rest, and so do we if we are serving as he did.  Can you imagine if you became known for being able to heal any disease, just how many people would be coming to you, giving you no rest.  And perhaps you would feel guilty if you did not expend yourself healing them.

But Jesus knew his calling and purpose, and it was not to heal everyone in Israel.  It was to proclaim the kingdom and preach repentance in light of that.  And he and his disciples needed rest, and they needed boosting of their strength to minister.  That came through prayer.  As Jesus spent time in intimacy with the Father he was rejuvenated.  And so will we be.