Mark 6:30 - 46

vs 34: "And Jesus, when he came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

When the apostles returned from their preaching, Jesus wanted them to rest and they all departed to a private place in a boat. But the people saw them going, and walked to the place ahead of them. When they arrived for their holiday there were the people milling about like sheep without a shepherd.
What was Jesus' reaction? He had compassion on them. A sheep without a shepherd is in desperate need. On its own it cannot get proper grazing and water to drink. Palestine is desert and wilderness. Just think of how Jacob and others drew water for their sheep. If there was no shepherd, who would draw the water? They would die of thirst. There were many wild animals too that would devour stray sheep. Ps 23 is an excellent illustration of what the shepherd means to the sheep.

Here the people were like sheep without a shepherd. And it did touched Jesus' heart - but not to His heart only, it also made Him act, to provide help for their need. When Jesus beholds us, does He have a deep sorrow and pity, because you go your own way as a sheep without a shepherd - being destroyed by the devil and sin? Know this, that if you live your life as a sheep without a shepherd - that's what He feels for you. That is why He left the glories of heaven, came to earth and died for you.

Once when the people came to Him, because they sought the bread he provided, He spoke very sternly to them. Yes, He stretches out His hand of help, but if we continue to be concerned only with earthly things and reject Him as the Bread of Life, He rebukes us sharply. He has compassion on a sinner, being destroyed by sin and Satan, but then we must react to His invitation and offering, and accept it wholeheartedly. There is a time of grace for each one of us, but if we despise that grace, the time of judgement is sure to come.

There has been a custom among shepherds to stroke their hand over the back of the sheep as they pass through the narrow gate of the sheep pen. That touch was enough for the shepherd to immediately know the condition of the sheep. Do we experience that, or do we keep away from Him, so that He cannot touch us? Are you too busy to come close to Him, so that He can show you your condition and need?

What do you feel for others destroyed by sin? Are you so busy with your work that you have no compassion for the lost? Cry to God to give you this heart of Jesus for lost sinners! It is good to weep and cry for the lost, and have compassion on them, but just being emotional, talking about and thinking about them is not enough. We must act as Jesus acts. Drops of tears for them is good, but drops of sweat must follow.

Does the Lord Jesus have the right to change your holiday? If we act according to our sinful natures, we'll take a permanent holiday, till the day we die. We must take our cross daily and follow Jesus. Have your eyes been opened to see the condition of the multitudes, lost as sheep without a shepherd?  May He show us the fields ripe for the harvest.

After Jesus provided the multitude with bread, He constrained His disciples to depart. He knew that it was now time that He should be alone with the multitude, and send them on their way. If we read just a few verses further, we see that the disciples had no insight into Jesus' work - thinking that the physical bread fed to the multitude was the main thing. They did not see yet that Jesus was the true Bread of Life. Their hearts were "still hardened" (vs 52).

John records how many of the people and even disciples turned away from Him, when He declared that He was the Bread of Life whom they should eat. They were not on the 'right frequency', in touch with Him, and feeling as He felt. If we are not in touch with Him, we'll do more harm than good. We must be in touch with Him, that He will not have to pass us by when He wants to work. We must let Him work on us, so that He can show us where we are lacking. Nothing should come inbetween us and the Lord, so that we may be in step with Him and useful in His service.

Maybe you are not called to preach and work in the limelight. God called you to strengthen and pray for those in the thick of the battle. Are you faithful? Is your life like the morning dew to them, strengthening them in the work? Children, you see your parents in the work of the Lord, but instead of strengthening them, are you only a worry and continual problem, pulling them down?

In Col 1:24 and 2Tim 2:10 Paul says there is still some suffering that remains for the church's servants for the sake of the elect. Jesus paid the full sacrifice necessary for our salvation, but there are still sacrifices we have to make, and Jesus' yoke we have to bear, for the sake of God's people. Are we prepared for this, or do we rather choose to be on holiday? Are we criticising those that toil, and do not go to the work ourselves? When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was filled with compassion, touched and moved, and He helped them. May we be the same.