Compassion for the Crowds

He had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless.

What does this look like? If the Church is the body of Christ today, what does our compassion for the crowds look like?

Like sheep without a shepherd.

Few, if any of us writing and reading this have ever actually seen a flock of sheep without a shepherd. But it still hits, doesn’t it?

The workers are few.

Many have seen this passage to be about a lack of ministers evangelizing in an evangelical manner. Perhaps. But in light of what the passage says Jesus actually does for the people - teaching…announcing good news…healing - we must be driven beyond “decisions for Christ.”

…right?

Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”

Prayer

God -

What is the good news? I mean, yes, I know: it refers to Jesus coming, living, dying, rising again, and ascending. But what does it mean?

What does good news mean to those who are hurting and helpless, lost amongst the crowd? I ask because I’d like to participate in the announcement and deliverance of such good news.

So help me God,
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.