Matthew 9:36 -10:8
June 18, 2023
Lead-in: One day when Jesus was preaching, he looked out and, “at the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them.” (Matthew 9) In effect, the sight of the crowd broke Jesus’ heart. Such was the compassion that Jesus had for the people he ministered to.
Prompt: What is it in our world today that “breaks your heart”?
Prompt: Where is it that you have grown numb and anesthetized yourself to the pain of the world?
Lead-in: Jesus saw how the crowd he was ministering to was “troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9) There was good reason that the people were “troubled.” After the Romans had conquered Israel, the Roman government and its economic policies led to an increase in poverty and all the problems that follow, illness, malnutrition, crime, fear, and untimely death. This, no doubt, is a good description of much of the world today. And so for Jesus the day he looked out on the crowds. That was suffering he saw on people’s faces. And it broke his heart.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when, like Jesus, the suffering you saw someone going through broke your heart? What did you do with the helplessness you felt?
Prompt: How has seeing the suffering of others moved you to action?
Lead-in: Seeing the crowds, Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few, so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” And lo and behold, the prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called twelve of his followers and sent them out to a hurting world to minister where the need was greatest. And so, in our world today, the harvest is great but the laborers are few.
Prompt: As a follower of Jesus, what work are you being called to where the harvest is great, but the workers are few?
Lead-in: Jesus hand -picked his team and called them by name. By today’s professional standards, there had to have been many others more qualified. But these are the twelve that Jesus chose.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you were chosen for something that you felt unqualified for and was well beyond what you were capable of.
