5-6-2024

Good Morning All,

          Matthew 9:39; “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

     As World War II came to an end in Europe and the Allied forces moved into German held territory, the Allied armies came upon places that would be burned into the world’s psyche, places like Dachau, Buchenwald, Treblinka and Auschwitz.  As the allied soldiers began to try and help the emaciated and suffering prisoners, many of the soldiers became physically sick as they looked on at the conditions under which the prisoners existed for many years.  They were so moved by the total helplessness of the prisoners that these battle hardened and weary soldiers, many who had witnessed great horrors, became sick as they tried to aid the prisoners.  The soldiers experienced compassion for the prisoners.

    The word compassion in the Bible literally means a deep-felt pain or reaction deep in the bowels or in your stomach.  It is when you see a person in such pain or need that you feel the pain in your most inward parts.  It is what Jesus felt when he looked at the crowds of people.  He looked at them and saw a people who were like sheep without a shepherd.  He looked at the people as sheep that had been harassed and helpless.  They were like sheep that had been attacked by wolves. They were cut up, bloodied, injured, and lost.  They were beaten and defeated.  Jesus saw their pain and he was moved, deep down inside, he felt their pain and suffering, and he acted.  He healed the blind and the lame.  He drove out demons and brought comfort to those who knew suffering and pain.

     Many people read this and see it as a blueprint for their own life.  We should have compassion for our brothers.  We should have the compassion of Jesus.  We should not judge how or why the injured person got where he got.  We should not focus on bad choices or bad decisions because when a person is in need of comfort, we simply must meet the need.  Whether the pain is self-inflicted from personal failures does not lessen the pain or the sorrow.  Many read this and think of how they should act and that is a good thing.  We should be quick to have compassion for those who are around us.  But this is not the crux of the story.

    The real crux of the story is that you and I are still the sheep.  You and I still desperately need Jesus’ compassion.  We sin daily and we put ourselves into situations that cause us nothing but pain.  We are our own worst enemy; we desperately need compassion and healing, and Jesus provides it to us daily and freely.  He looks at you and he sees your pain and through his forgiving words and his loving kindness he takes the pain away.  Trust in his grace; trust in his mercy.

Father of mercy, in your wonderful mercy you gave your Son to have compassion for us.  You free us from the tyranny of the devil.  You gather us into your flock, and you protect us.  Lead us by your gracious Spirit.  Lead us in peace and harmony.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret