Read: Matthew 9:36-37  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

When people see crowds or the masses, they have different reactions. Many would feel indifferent, focusing their attention on themselves and their own needs. For others, the crowds are business opportunities. And for some, the crowds are exciting, with the attraction of mass appeal.

When Jesus saw the crowds around Him, He “had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36)”. The primary emotion evoked in Jesus was compassion—literally, “moved in the bowels”—an expression based on the ancient belief that love and human emotions arose in the bowels. We may laugh at this, for in our modern age, we think that these emotions reside in the heart. But then again…

… deeply moved in His inner being.

The point is that when Jesus saw the crowds, He was deeply moved in His inner being. It was a profound response that was rooted in our Lord’s love for people. With the eyes of divine love, Jesus saw the people in their true condition. Yes, many of them were poor and struggled to survive.

Others might have had some resources but were lonely and miserable within. Jesus saw their true needs.

He saw them as harassed people. They were people who had been robbed of their rest, either by their own making or because of the uncaring or cruel ways of society. They were exhausted just coping with the daily challenges of life. They were not meant to live like that.

The God who created them had pity on them and was deeply moved. The Lord of the Sabbath rest compassionately invited them, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

…literally, “moved in the bowels”…

Jesus also saw their helplessness. They were little digits caught in the giant machinery of worldliness and sin. They were prisoners in their own souls, hiding their misery and apathy with their weak social smiles—unable to climb out of the pit. Recognising their plight, Jesus lifted the people up with strong holy arms—from their deathbeds, soiled mats, insignificant street corners where they begged, groaned, and helplessly saw life passing by.

The Lord saw them as sheep without a shepherd. They had no one to look up to, no one to lead and guide them, no one to take care of them. The great Shepherd of the sheep saw the sheep scattered, lost, wounded and dying. He came to save His sheep and walked the gruelling miles through wilderness and rugged mountains, from village to village, to shepherd His sheep. He laid down His life for the lost sheep so that He could forever be their Shepherd (John 10:11).

After looking at the crowds in this way, Jesus told His disciples of the plentiful harvest and sent His disciples into mission (Matthew 9:37-10:42).

Consider this:
When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them. How does this encourage you in your current situation?

Excerpted and adapted from Following Jesus in a Fallen World by Robert Solomon. © 2009 by Robert Solomon. Used by permission of Armour Publishing. All rights reserved.

Related Resources:

Why? Seeing God in Our Pain. We normally think of pain and suffering as bad, and we do our best to avoid them. But since they are inevitable parts of life, maybe we should adjust our thinking. Instead of grumbling about our problems or blaming someone else, let’s look to the Bible to see how God uses our trials to draw us closer to Him. Read more here.

 

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