SENT: Compassion

Read Matthew 9:35-38.

What was Jesus doing? He went out to the people. Met them at their point of need. He was interacting mainly with the people Israel. Shows the geographical range and variety of things involved in Jesus’ ministry. He was Teaching. He taught in the synagogues. What did He teach? The Old Testament scriptures. He was also Preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the good news of His appearing and impending death and resurrection. He was also Healing. His all-powerful touch doing mighty deeds. Some of which are recorded in Matt. 8-9. Jesus’ ministry involved teaching, preaching and healing. He did this throughout all the cities and villages. It is easy to think of it being numerically insignificant, being such a small area. Galilee was small, 70 x 40 miles, but according to Josephus, who wrote a generation later, Galilee had 204 cities and towns, each with at least 15,000 people, which if accurate, would make the population around 3 million. It would have taken 3 months to visit them all if you took 2 towns a day. Whatever the case, Jesus was busy!

How did He respond? He saw the need of the people. He saw the crowds. Big word in Matthew. Crowds, multitudes, masses of needy people. Jesus had compassion for them. Saw their condition and felt for them. The Greek word is splagnidzomai. Means to be moved inwardly, to feel deeply, to be emotionally moved on someone else’s behalf. And because of that feeling to act towards them in a way that meets their needs. He felt compassion for them because they were harassed...distressed, weary, lit. skinned. They were experiencing distressing difficulties. Therefore they were Helpless...Dispirited, downcast, worn out, lit. face down. They were unable to care for themselves. Their sinful condition had been aggravated by the religious leaders. Those who were supposed to help them were hindering them, harassing them; putting them in harm’s way rather than leading them to the truth, putting heavy yokes on them they were unwilling to bear themselves. They were Shepherdless sheep.

What did Jesus say to His disciples? He instructed His people. There is a plentiful harvest. There are not many workers. Ask God to send workers. God selects His own servants. He knows who they are, who they will be, who He has chosen, but He invites us into the process by asking us to pray...God uses the prayers of His people in fulfilling His plans…He is asking us to be so compassionately involved that we want what He wants and we bind ourselves to Him in dependent prayer, seeking His will and glory.

What are we to do?
Like Jesus said Be praying . Do exactly what Jesus said to do. This is just as needed today as it was then. And don't just be asking for others to be sent, be willing to go yourself. Ask God to break your heart for people.

Like Jesus did...Be looking for opportunity wherever you are. See the needs, notice the people as those made in God's image. Human, therefore worthy of attention and respect. So many people need Jesus.

Like Jesus, Be serving. Where are you now? Serve there. While you wait, work…be like Jesus…overcome evil with good. Where is your field? Where has God planted you? Bloom there. Biblical compassion inspires mission.

A true church is a missionary church. Not just in sending people far away, but here, there and everywhere. Why? Due to the lost condition of the world, the love of God, and the Great Commission, coupled with the many opportunities God gives us to share the life-giving gospel. All things we see in 9:35-38. At Grace our stated purpose is to worship God, build up believers and reach others for Christ. We exist to glorify God by building a gospel-centered community that proclaims and displays the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What motivates our mission-mindedness must never be a feeling of superiority, or disgust because people are caught in sinful lifestyles, but the fact that God loves them and He has compassion for them. It is the work of the gospel, where we are sent by God to help people – by bringing and living the gospel. John 3:16 does NOT say for God was so fed up with the world, or that God was so disgusted with the sins of the world, or that God was so full of wrath at the world, but God so loved the world that He gave He only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish (from their sin and the wrath poured out on it by a just and merciful God) but would have everlasting life.

So, be active in living and sharing the gospel and God will show you where to go next. He will show you what your next asignment is.