The Crowds

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them (Matthew 5:1).

The crowds were a mess!

Some were blind. Some were lame. Some had leprosy. Some were hungry. Some needed a miracle. Some wanted to see a miracle. Most just wanted food. But they all wanted—something.

They didn’t want the Kingdom of God.

They just wanted. . . .

Need wine at a wedding? Call Jesus. Need to feed a large crowd? Call Jesus. Need someone raised from the dead? Call Jesus. Need the temple cleared? Call Jesus. Need your storm calmed? Call Jesus. Need. . . ? Call Jesus.

The crowds wanted a magician . . . they needed a Savior.

Jesus was going to teach the Precepts of His Kingdom to His disciples. They would shepherd the crowds in due time. So His disciples came to Him to learn.

They didn’t really have in mind the things of God either. That would take them some time . . . and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then they would set the world on fire with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For now, Jesus was content to teach His disciples. He knew they would step up to the plate—in His timing. Jesus looked out beyond His disciples at the crowd and He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

Jesus still looks at the crowds today. He looks into my life and all of those I come into contact with. And He looks into your life and those in your sphere of influence. He sees the people, harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And He has compassion on them . . . do you?

Do you see people within your sphere of influence as sheep, harassed and helpless, in need of a shepherd?

The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur says:
“Sheep are the dumbest of all animals. They are helpless, timid, and feeble. They require constant attention and meticulous care. Sheep have little means of self-defense. If they do not have the constant care of a shepherd, they will go the wrong way, unaware of the dangers at hand. They have been known to nibble themselves right off a mountainside. If they are not led to proper pastures, they will obliviously eat or drink things that are disastrous to them. Not only that, they will literally live their lives in a rut if the shepherd does not lead them to new pastures. Sheep easily fall prey to other animals; when they do, they are virtually defenseless without their shepherd to protect them. Sheep can also become cast down and, in that state, panic and die. And so, because sheep are sheep, they need shepherds to care for them!”1

People need a Shepherd too. When they have no Shepherd they are defenseless from predators, vulnerable to disease, and susceptible to their own worldly thought processes.

Look at the world around you. It is a mess!

The enemy is rampant. Paul’s words to Timothy could be written today in the local newspaper in Any City, USA.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (II Timothy 3:1-5).

Peter warned us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).

The enemy is destroying lives. Suicide is on the increase, as is divorce, child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, murder, rape, robbery, and every other sort of crime. But we have a Shepherd Who watches over us. He leads—we follow. When we stray or wander away from Him, we, too, become vulnerable to the tactics of the enemy.

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:14-15, 27-29).

So, my friend, are you following your Shepherd? If so, you will think as He thinks. You will look upon the crowds, those within your sphere of influence, as harassed and helpless sheep without a Shepherd, and see them with compassion.

We are to listen to the voice of the Master Shepherd so that we may influence the crowds around us. We are to stay close to our Shepherd by spending time in His Word and prayer, so that we can impact the crowds in our world for the kingdom.

Perhaps you feel like one of the crowd, harassed and beaten up. Your world may have fallen apart and the enemy has attacked you on every hand. Maybe you have been on the receiving end of abuse, unforgiveness and slander.

The Shepherd has an abundance of grace and peace for you.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Or maybe you have wandered away from your Shepherd like the sheep Kay Arthur spoke of. If so, there is an easy way back. It’s called repentance. It is making a U-turn and running toward your Shepherd. He is always watching and waiting, and He will welcome you with open arms.

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20, emphasis mine).

Wow—to be kissed by God. . . !
Don’t accept the lie of the enemy that no one loves you, that God is angry with you, or any such nonsense that he dishes out. He is a liar and the father of lies. It is his native tongue (John 8:44). He is a thief and robber (John 10:1), and he comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

Christ Jesus, Jehovah Raah, is our Shepherd. He laid down His life for us (John 10:11). The cross forever proves His love. Guilt will drive us from the cross. Humility will drive us to it. Know who you are, dear friend; a sheep of the Master Shepherd.

He will care for you—and you in turn will care for the crowds. . . .

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever (Psalm 23).

Recommended Reading
Romans 1:26-30
I Thessalonians 1:4-10
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
I Thessalonians 4:1-12
I Thessalonians 5:12-28
II Thessalonians 1:3
II Thessalonians 2:13-17
Notes
1. Kay Arthur, LORD, I Want to Know You

Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.