Jesus' Life Crossroads: Putting the needs of others before your own

Mark 6:30-34 | The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

• What need did Jesus have in Mark 6? When have you felt this way?

• What crossroad did Jesus face when He saw the huge crowd on the shore?

• If you were in Jesus’ shoes - exhausted, hungry, and wanting rest, how do you think you would have reacted to the people on shore?

• How did Jesus put the needs of others before His own on this occasion?

• How will you face this crossroad— putting yourself or someone else first— in the future? What have you learned from Jesus' example?