Lost Sheep Need a Loving Shepherd

“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36

For more context read Matthew 9:27-38.

REFLECTION

A few years ago, I was reading a devotion that asked a piercing question: “If you had one question - one thing you desperately want to ask God but were too afraid to put into words - what would it be?”

For me, it was simply “Why?”  “Why have I experienced so much hardship, betrayal, and suffering? Why have so many painful things happened in my life?”

I have felt harassed and helpless like those Jesus had compassion on in today’s text. 

“When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Hmm.  Like a sheep without a shepherd. 

Can you feel the hurting heart of this bleating lost lamb?

Sheep without a shepherd are vulnerable and unprotected. The Greek word translated harassed can mean “to flay” or “to mangle,” while helpless conveys the idea of being thrown down—overwhelmed and in desperate need of care.

Without a shepherd, sheep soon find themselves wandering off onto unsafe paths, getting stuck in thickets of thorns, stumbling, falling, or being helplessly thrown down by a predator.  Each of these could result in their skin being ripped open causing open wounds, mangling injury and in desperate need of help. 

Jesus is our one and only Good Shepherd.

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus proclaimed:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

In Matthew chapters 8 and 9, the Gospel writer recounts the many ways Jesus had just done these very miracles – proclaimed good news, given sight to the blind, set the oppressed free. There were so many people with so many needs, and “Jesus had compassion on them.”

Have you felt the pain of feeling harassed, ripped open by wandering?  Have you gotten so stuck that being freed caused you pain?  Have you felt preyed upon and mangled beyond repair by someone who sought to harm you? 

How did Jesus meet your needs in those times?  Where did you see the hand of the Good Shepherd protecting or healing you?  Whom else did He send to care for and nurture you?

Maybe you are still in that season right now. Jesus is your Good Shepherd – you can depend upon Him. Keep your eyes open to His guidance and protection.

On the other side of our pain, God has a plan. We are called to join the mission of our One and Only Good Shepherd.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I know that embracing a heart of compassion can be daunting, and it's easy for fear to creep in and keep us from stepping out. Sometimes, our own priorities or distractions prevent us from noticing the important opportunities God places before us each day. Still, Jesus calls us to look up, to see the world around us, and to recognize that the fields are ripe for harvest and ready for us to serve, to use the pain of our story for His glory.

Prayer 

Lord, make my story part of Your story. You rescued me when I was lost and helpless, when I was like a sheep without a shepherd.  You bound up my broken heart and restored me.  You have set me free.  Fill me with Your compassion. Let it compel me to reach the lost and hurting who still need to hear of Your saving grace.  Send me, Lord, and use the story of my life to reflect Your Story.