Instruction
Scripture: Mark6:30-44
Seeking a time of rest and refreshment after a busy time of
ministry, Jesus and the disciples found themselves surrounded by a crowd of
people who long to hear God’s word and to see Jesus. The passage shows how
Jesus responded with compassion to the people and functions to show us his
compassion for us as well.
Teaching
When Jesus got out of the boat he saw the crowd and he had
compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. That
compassion led him to lay aside his agenda for this time with the disciples and
to minister to the crowd. That same compassion is what moved Jesus to be born
among us, setting aside his glory, and to die for us to forgive our sins.
Life
What would you do if you were looking forward to rest and
you found people waiting for you where you thought you’d find peace? Jesus’
compassion challenges us in our interaction with others. It urges us to put
them before ourselves and convicts us because we know that we are often selfish
with our time and priorities. That is why it is so important to hold fast to
the truth that we are people who received and continue to receive compassion
from Jesus. We are forgiven for our lack of compassion even as Jesus’
compassion upon us moves us to be compassionate for others.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Confession and Instruction.
Lord Jesus, when we read of your compassion on the crowd
part of us just takes it for granted that you’ll be compassionate because that’s
who you are. Forgive us for not seeing that act of compassion as the great
sacrifice it was. Forgive us for not comprehending that it has always been your
compassion that led you to come to us, to bear our sins, and to die for us.
Forgive us for not being moved by your compassion to be compassionate with
others. Forgive us for putting our agendas ahead of your will for us, when you
have put us ahead of yourself. Forgive us for the many times that we have seen
others in need and we ignored them, or believed that there was nothing we could
do, or judged them for their situation. Forgive us for our lack of compassion.
Indeed, Lord, we ask that you would teach us to be
compassionate and that you would help us to see throughout your word that
compassion is a great gift to receive and to share. We see that your compassion
did not extend only to forgiving sins and speaking of heaven, but of meeting
people where they were and dealing with the needs they have now. Help us to
learn to have compassion on all aspects of people’s lives – their guilt, their
grief, their need, their lack of faith, and everything that hurts them. Help us
to understand that you are the Shepherd who came for lost sheep, and that lost
sheep are vulnerable. Make us aware of the many ways people are like sheep
without a shepherd and give us wisdom to help them meet you – the Shepherd who
came to save us all. Amen.
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