Like a doctor who is "on call", a pastor can get a phone call in the middle of the night.  Imagine be sound asleep, when you are startled by the sound of the phone.  You want to rest, but your mission is to serve the crisis laden person on the other end of the line.  I must admit that there have been times that my heart has not been so eager to help in that moment.

 

But consider Jesus.  His disciples have just returned from an exhilerating and exhausting mission (Mark 6:30).  Jesus know that they need a break, the 3 R's of rest, relaxation and renewal.  Then comes the "phone call in the middle of the night."  It comes in the form of a great crowd longing for Jesus. 

 

And then the Bible says, "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  And he began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34).  Here is the compassionate Christ, the caring Christ.

 

The good news is that the risen-from-the-dead still has that kind of heart for us...even if we call on Him in the middle of the night!