The Lord of the Harvest (Part II)

The Lord of the Harvest is looking for His laborers, and Jesus is our great example for the kind of laborers God is looking for.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus had compassion

The scripture tells us the Jesus had compassion on the multitudes because they were weary and scattered. Jesus’ heart was moved towards the people. His desire to serve them and heal them was coming from the burden He had for the people. This wasn’t a duty or obligation. He wasn’t doing it because it was one of the tasks of the ministry. He was doing it because compassion and love moved Him.

Where were the shepherds who really cared about the people? Were they just concerned about punching their time card and making an appearance at the temple? Were they expecting people to show up at the temple and ask for help or a handout?

Did the shepherds judge the sick making them worse than before they showed up to seek help? Were people so burdened from hardness of life and the religious regulations that they had become weary in their soul? Jesus was aware and in tune to all of the above and His heart was going out to the people.

Jesus saw the scattered

Why were people scattered? Was there no safe place for them to go? Did people begin to lose love for each other? Did they begin to judge each other as their religious leaders had judged them? Did they run away, so they won’t be abused by the very ones who were supposed to care for them?

Jesus’ compassion was one of the keys factors in reaching these people well. He didn’t show up with an attitude of superiority, but with a heart of humility desiring to help those who were seeking help. While they didn’t speak much, their faces told a thousand words. He knew their burden and was well acquainted with their condition.

When we develop a heart like Jesus, it changes us! It allows us to see people like we have never seen them before. We don’t look at our ministry or service as doing them a favor. The compassion that the Lord has placed in our hearts moves us to do it purely out of love for God and for them. The people also realize the genuine heart of love towards them and are more willing to be open and vulnerable with us. 

Let’s pray today for a shepherd’s heart towards people.