Long-term Goals vs Short-term Needs
The phrase, “like sheep without a shepherd” is repeated twice in the Gospels. Here are the references: Matthew 9:36 ESV – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd,” and Mark 6:34 ESV – “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.”
The Matthew event happened before sending out the Twelve in pairs, while the second occurred after they returned from their short-term ministry trip. Both events evoked a response from Jesus of compassion for the many people who were wandering through life without someone who cared for or protected them. But note the different applications that followed His compassion for the crowds.
In Matthew, we know that He saw a ripe harvest of souls all around Him and the application was to pray for more laborers for the harvest. The solution was more workers in the harvest, and the means was prayer to the Father. Implied in this request was a willingness to personally engage in the harvest as it was immediately followed by Jesus sending them out into the lost crowds in the villages of Galilee (see Matthew 10).
In Mark, after the Twelve returned, on the premise of seeking to get some time away, they once again encountered the many people in the ‘great crowd’ who had followed their boat from the shoreline. Upon arrival, He saw the crowd, had compassion on them, and responded by ‘teaching them many things.’ And yes, He did eventually feed them – all 5,000 of them!
As we go about our busy lives, may the Lord make us sensitive to the many lost, wandering souls around us who are living quietly desperate lives. They may look all ‘put together,’ but we know the truth. They are harassed and helpless – like sheep without a shepherd. They have no one who is watching over their souls.
May our response be one of loving care for these lost ones. May we engage in praying for them, teaching them the truth of the Gospel, and treating them as we would want to be treated – with dignity and respect. Let’s be careful not to lose our focus on spiritual generations of disciplemakers – for that will ultimately address the eternal needs of the great crowds. But let’s not be so future focused that we miss the immediate opportunities He brings our way. Not moved to action by guilt, but from a compassion for the lost.
Jesus dealt with this same dynamic tension of completing His strategic mission with the Twelve. He was always responding to the daily clamoring crowds immediate needs, who He helped by teaching and healing. We too must address some short term ‘crowd’ needs and still fulfill our Mission just as He did.
Developing Kingdom Leaders - Tom Yeakley 