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Herod's execution of John the Baptist brought the disciples scurrying back to Jesus. Exhausted by their preaching tour, the disciples may have worried that Jesus would become Herod's next high-profile target. Did they even fear for their own safety and believe that if they were with Jesus, they could better assess the danger and take steps to protect Jesus and themselves?
Jesus recognized their fear and exhaustion and "...because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest" (Mark 6:31, NIV). Jesus and his disciples headed for a "solitary place" (Mark 6:32).
But Jesus attracted a large crowd, even in that solitary space. Instead of rest, the disciples found themselves surrounded by a crowd of thousands gathered to hear Jesus teach. A hungry crowd of thousands. Jesus challenged his tired, frightened disciples: "You give them something to eat." Astonished, the disciples pointed to the impossibility of Jesus' instruction: "That would take more than a half a year's wages." Jesus then fed the crowd of more than 5000 people with just one little boy's lunch - 5 small loaves of bread and a couple of dried fish.
Mark 6:45 relates what happened next: "Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd." After their not-so-quiet, not-so-restful day in nature, the disciples were sent back to town, sent ahead to cross the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Because the "wind was against them" and "buffeted" the boat, the disciples found themselves "straining at the oars" trying to get their boat across the lake. Their struggle lasted for as long as 9 hours before Jesus finally joined them.
So let's summarize. The disciples, who were already afraid for their lives and for Jesus' life after the death of John the Baptist, didn't get their needed rest and were instead asked to do the impossible: Feed more than 5000 people. Jesus recognized their fatigue and invited them to a "solitary place" for "rest," but then ordered them out onto the Sea of Galilee in a small boat and into a storm. Jesus let them spend as much as 9 hours "straining at the oars," against the wind before coming to their rescue. Jesus saw their struggle and knew their need but let them continue to row through a long and exhausting night.
Since God knows and controls everything in His creation, we have to conclude that Jesus knew the disciples were having a bad day and He, on purpose, let it get, arguably made it get, even worse.
Why?
Because the need to learn and grow outweighed the disciple's need for rest and peace.
Jesus' disciples needed to understand that service often precludes selfishness. Jesus didn't allow the disciples to remain focused on their own fear or fatigue, he challenged them to more work: "You feed them." He sent them across the lake and into the storm. Already stressed, the disciples were forced to face nearly 24 hours of almost non-stop exercise, expectations, frustration and fear.
The disciples learned that Jesus would walk with them through their troubles, but wouldn't always protect them from trouble. Tired, they had to keep moving. Afraid, they were sent into a storm. Looking for comfort, Jesus' disciples were challenged with greater responsibility. And if they thought doing God's work guaranteed their safety, then the disciples had to face the fact that John the Baptizer was dead! The disciples learned that they weren't in control, but Jesus was. He could feed 5000 people, see the disciples' struggle through the storm, walk on water and keep them safe.
Here's a thought: The disciples' experience on that long and difficult day wasn't just for them; it was for us too. Maybe we're supposed to read their story and understand that while we never have control, Jesus always does. Perhaps we're supposed to see their experiences and figure out that Jesus knows how much we can endure, and can carry us through even more! Maybe we're intended to watch them and learn that it's not what happens to us that matters most to God, but what happens in us.
Maybe we're supposed to watch the disciples and learn to simply trust Jesus and keep rowing.