Sheep to Shepherds

SCRIPTURE:

OBSERVATION:

Jesus’ ministry is picking up steam. Healing, miracles, the recruitment of Matthew the tax collector, raising a girl from death, we get a cue as to what His intentions are, and it’s not going to stop.

Here it mentions the multitudes coming to Him, “like sheep without a shepherd”.  Distressed and dispirited, some versions say harassed and helpless. Either way, He clearly sees that these people coming from all backgrounds are seeking something. Something they heard about Jesus. Something someone may have witnessed and shared with them.

Sheep. Farmers who know sheep know they are not too bright. And they need constant guidance and to often be led to water and food. That is the crowd Jesus sees.

And so He comes right out. The “harvest” is plentiful—the crowds and throngs of “sheep”.

The workers—those entrusted to partake in the shepherding of sheep—are few.

APPLICATION:

I recall one Sunday recently…crowds!  Our church is being blessed by many people coming again, after a few years of stable and steady attendance.

Lately there are so many, and not just diaspora who are coming back to check out what changed, but those from other places, moved to Hawaii, heard the stories of New Hope or witnessed it online, and are coming to “check things out”. And many younger local people are coming to New Hope as their first experience walking into a “church”.

These people are like sheep. They are distressed and dispirited, had life chew them up and spit them out, are unsure and have little clue as to how this “church thing” works. Needing guidance in everything, from answering questions to putting up with complaints about parking and air conditioning and loud music.

And it sometimes can be wearying to those, the shepherds who were called and chosen to be part of the solution in Christ.

So much so that we can see the crowds as “nuisances” or “just here for the hype”, or we can make a dozen reasons why the sheep are flocking again.

They just need Jesus. And they need the workers who will guide them patiently toward Him.

Because if we don’t guide the harvest toward Him, by default, the world will lure them back out.

A tough call. And an even tougher calling.

We are not meant to remain sheep. To do so will render us ineffective for the Kingdom. The mandate of the Christian’s life is “to know Him and make Him known.” That only comes when we step into the harvest. Becoming disciples of Jesus.

We should always look at the crowds as the next disciples. Not just sheep to be guided and served.

If we ourselves don’t subscribe to discipleship—being disciples ourselves—we too, will remain sheep. And the harvest will remain as is, unharvested.

PRAYER: