36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. -- Matthew 9:36

Jesus, The Compassionate Shepherd(Matthew 9:36)

‍

his week, Mike continued our GAME CHANGERS series, where we investigated how to make a difference in our community and in the world for Christ.

In Matthew 9:36, as Jesus observed the crowds, he felt compassion for them. Compassion as used by the biblical authors is not a fleeting emotion or a quick twinge of "ah, I should do something". In fact, the verb "to have compassion"(splanchnizomai, σπλαγχνίζομαι) pictures a deep, gut-level compassion. The root word means the inward parts of the body, "the bowels." Jesus feels deeply for these people, he has great sympathy because of their current status.

The crowds are described as distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. The picture that Jesus is painting is a group of sheep who are being pestered by wolves and are unable to help themselves. Further, they have no shepherd to guide and protect them. Similarly, the crowds were helpless spiritually, pestered by religious leaders who had misaligned the truth and had no direction to their lives.

When Jesus sees distressed and dejected people, his first response is COMPASSION. He does not look with disgust or disappointment. Instead, he looks with sympathy and compassion. Thankfully, the compassion of Jesus is always an action of Jesus. He does not only feel but he acts. Jesus Christ will be the shepherd for those who would turn to him.  

• Apart from Jesus Christ, we are distressed and dejected without a shepherd.
• In Jesus Christ, we are safe and defended by a good shepherd.

We have a compassionate shepherd who will defend us and lead us to life everlasting!