Desert inclinations- 6:30-33

From here we are back to the disciples returning from their their preaching tour. And Mark doesn't give us an insight into how it went for them- events overtake their return. We do hear that they reported back all that they had done and taught. There's a review time there. Practical experience pretty hard to beat in terms of a teaching method.

But while they are trying to have this review time (presumably in the house in Capernaum), there are many people coming and going. So much so that they did not even have a chance to eat. So Jesus says to come to a deserted place and rest awhile.

Would this have been a natural response for any 1st Century Jew? - The desert place bit. I imagine that in one sense people were on the whole more outdoors people than now. To get anywhere you had to walk or ride- no hopping into the car, to go from one air conditioned building to another.
Jesus was forced out into these areas on account of his popularity earlier on. He also sought them out alone, early in the morning to pray. So I suppose we don't fully know- but I would imagine that Jesus had gone to places like this for much of his life at different points. Perhaps after a long day in the shed (how would have this sort of business worked in a place like Nazareth? Would he have often taken his tools with him? or predominantly done things at his own place- or would there have been a separate premises for the business?) he would go out walking the hills for the next two hours- perhaps times as a teenager camping out with friends- it seems like a pretty natural response for him (as well as the necessity bit) with the disciples.

Once again they are off in a boat. And in a bit of an insight into the mood of Capernaum- people see them go (and many recognise them)- and a whole lot of people take off on foot. The NRSV says they hurried there on foot- but that doesn't really seem to capture it- they all ran there (and get there ahead of them) – Mustn't of been that far away. Like when the Queen came to Ballarat and I wanted to see her- but we were doing something with Fusion and had to pack up and take a trailer somewhere- Got in the car and went speeding off to see if we could catch a glimpse.