Matthew 9:35-38 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and 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 on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Text Lamentations 3:51 “Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.”
Have you ever asked yourself why you have such a difficult time treating others the way Jesus did? Jesus wept with two sisters (John 11:35); wasn’t repulsed by the touch of a sinner (Luke 7:39); loved those that would reject Him (Mark 10:20-23) and made time for the little children (Mark 10:14). While there are numerous answers to our dilemma, one of the most obvious is; we don’t see what Jesus saw when we see the multitude! What Jesus saw with His eye affected His heart and He was “moved with compassion.” The word “compassion” means to feel sympathy or pity, to yearn. As Jesus passed through the cities and villages, He saw a defeated people, “they fainted.” These were people that had been beaten down and skinned by the difficulties of life and the harsh criticism of others. He saw a dispersed people, “scattered abroad.” These were people that had been tossed aside and driven out by friends, family, and society as having little or no worth. He saw a deserted people, “sheep having no shepherd.” These were people that everyone had given up on and wanted nothing to do with. When the scribes, Pharisees and sad to say; even Jesus’ own disciples, looked at the multitude they saw the pollution of sin, Jesus saw the possibility of service. Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus’ willingness to be a servant to others would earn Him the title, “a friend of . . . sinners” (Luke 7:34). Our willingness to serve others, even to the point of sacrifice is proportional to what we see. Are you seeing what Jesus saw?