Shepherdless Sheep
I am surrounded by sheep.
No, seriously. Looking out the front doors of my house, I have neighbors on multiple sides who have a number of farm animals, including several sheep. At any given time, the sounds of sheep fill the air between my home and the neighbor’s house.
So last week, my sweet wife and I took a walk to go see the new baby lambs that had been born. They were twins, and only four days old. The pictures are better than the words I could use to describe them.
The next day, it was remarkably cold. At one point my wife and I were looking out the window, and she asked where the baby lambs were. They weren’t visible from where we were looking out over the pasture. We began to wonder if something had gone awry.
Thankfully, the lambs were seen a few hours later. Our hope of enjoying watching these little lambs grow and mature was once again reignited.
Who is your shepherd?
If something bad were about to happen to these lambs, I think my wife or I would do what we could to save the little ones. There is something to be said about feeling mercy for weak little lambs who cannot protect themselves.
In reading Mark’s gospel this morning, I was struck by verse 34
Mark 6:34 (ESV)
34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Jesus is full of compassion toward those who are lost like little lambs. They have no one to defend them. They do not know where they need to be led. Jesus, like the good Shepherd, leads his sheep. Psalm 23 stands in the background of this passage, and dovetails nicely with what Jesus says about himself in John 10.
Sheep must have a shepherd if they are going to survive. A shepherd will protect the sheep, provide for the sheep, and also teach the sheep to trust in the shepherd. I think it is interesting to note here in this passage that the way Jesus has compassion upon these sheep is by acting like their shepherd and “teaching them many things.”
Jesus’s compassion is most clearly seen, not in his miracles, but in his teaching about the kingdom of God. Surely, the miracles of Christ do demonstrate the fullness of his heart towards those who are suffering. And yet, Jesus does not simply want people to have bodies that are physically well, but souls that are made well by being born again. Jesus makes this point over and over again in his ministry. While his miracles are an important part of his ministry, they simply confirm that the message Christ is teaching is true. They are God’s seal of approval upon the teaching of Jesus.
What about you, little flock? Do you see yourself as a defenseless lamb? Needing the compassion of a Savior? Do you follow the Shepherd’s voice? Will you gladly go where he leads?
See the heart of Jesus, full of compassion for his little ones. Listen to your Shepherd’s voice, that he might lead you for His name’s sake.
Hear the voice of the good shepherd today:
Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".