36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
This is how Jesus SAW the crowds! When he looked around and saw the crowds, as he traveled from city to city, village to village…WHAT DID HE FIND? Well informed people who just needed a bit of His guidance? Crowds with good motives who just needed His mentoring? People who just needed Him to make some minor tweaks to their behavior?
NOPE! When he saw the crowds He saw them as harassed and helpless. A harassed and helpless bunch who desperately needed His Help!
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one - to his own way;...” Isaiah 53:6
“For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25
All of us have rejected the authority of the shepherd and overseer of our souls. As sheep without a shepherd, we are harassed from threats without and fears within – without hope and constantly in danger.
Here is one of our challenges…
We can see a person’s condition, without being filled with Jesus’ compassion!
Jesus’ compassion led him to action. His compassion moved Him toward the lost.
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14
Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Matthew 15:32
“And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:34
Jesus had a gut-level reaction to the lost condition of the crowds. His heart was moved with mercy and affection toward them. How about us? Our calling us to go after the crowds, to go after the lost with the hope of the Gospel. Jesus has given us a Compassion-Driven Commission.
37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
The needs are plentiful. There are a lot of harassed, helpless people in the world who need to know the love of the Shepherd who lays His life down for His sheep. The nations are like a field in need of harvest without enough workers to harvest the ready crops.
PRAY to the Lord of the harvest that he would send out laborers into HIS harvest.
PRAY for the LORD OF THE HARVEST, to do a softening work to hard hearts, so people will believe. The compassionate and powerful hand of Jesus is needed to give sight to the blind and to make the dead come to life!
Take Note! Jesus didn’t say… “The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few…but don’t worry, God will take care of it, you can relax.”
Salvation is of the Lord – The harvest belongs to Him, but He “employs” laborers and harvesters! His work involves our work! He uses human means to accomplish His ends! SO PRAY!
PRAY for God to raise up laborers while at the same time opening your ears, eyes and hands to how He is calling you to go out into the harvest.
