The beginning of this text says that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages. That sounds like Jesus was busy. That sounds like he’s covering a lot of ground. What is the “all”? That’s a lot of locations. That’s a lot of people. Well, in the area that Jesus is ministering in, the context of it is about 200 cities and villages. That’s a lot of cities and villages. It’s about three million people in the vicinity of Galilee. So when it says that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, he was on the move. He was very active. He was busy. He was busy about the work that God the Father had for him to do. Jesus wasn’t just sitting around doing nothing. He was engaged. He was engaged in the mission to bring glory to his Father.

And what did he do when he went to those cities and villages? Well, Matthew 9:35 gives us a very good summary statement of the ministry of Jesus Christ: “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and affliction.” When it says that he’s teaching in their synagogues — a synagogue was able to be in a city or a village if they had enough male adult Israelites, then they would form a synagogue. The synagogue was a place where they would come together to worship, and they would pull out the Old Testament Scripture, and someone would read the Old Testament Scripture, and someone would explain what it said, what it meant, and what they were supposed to do about that Old Testament Scripture. And Jesus entered into a practice that was a normal practice that people would have experienced, where he was going to villages and cities, to synagogues, and he was teaching in their synagogues. Jesus was busy.

It says that he’s proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom means that Jesus, when he went throughout all the cities and villages, was explaining: the new era of God is here. The kingdom of God is at hand. This is a new season of what God is doing, and I want you to know about the gospel of the kingdom, to believe in the Son whom the Father sent. And so Jesus is proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom as he’s going and doing his ministry.

The third thing is that it says that he’s healing every disease and every affliction, which means that there is no disease that was too difficult for Jesus to heal. There was no affliction that was too tough for him to bring relief and freedom to a person’s life. At the discretion of Jesus, at the discretion of the Father, any disease, any affliction could be healed if that’s what the Father wanted, if that’s what Jesus wanted. And when he healed every disease and every affliction, what it did is it said: Look, my teaching is accurate. My proclaiming is true. The way that you know that the teaching is accurate and the proclaiming is true is because Jesus proved who he was when he did the miracles of healing. So the miracles of healing prove that Jesus was God. It proves that what he taught was accurate and what he proclaimed was true. So the three categories that are pretty good categories that you can think about of the ministry of Jesus are teaching, proclaiming, and healing.

What Did Jesus See in the People He Came to Save?

Now, when Jesus went throughout all those cities and villages and he was teaching, proclaiming, and healing — what did Jesus see in the people that he came to save? Earlier, I asked you to pick two words that you would say describe your life. I want you to think about what those two words are. What two words do you think would describe the people that Jesus saw? What did Jesus see in people when he came to save them? Let me give you some examples. Maybe two words you would think about are thirsty and hungry — and the fact that it’s about lunchtime, I just lost some of you. Maybe two words you would think about is storm and sick. Maybe two words that you would think about in the people that Jesus came to save would be leper or bleeding. Maybe two words that you would think about that describe the people that Jesus came to save would be paralyzed or blind. Maybe two words that would describe the people Jesus came to save would be demon-possessed or dead. What did Jesus see in the people that he came to save?

Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s grace. One of the things that we learn from this passage is that when Jesus saw individuals, he saw individuals who needed God’s grace. They needed God’s grace. What is grace? Grace is giving someone something that they do not deserve. So an expression of grace is to give a gift to somebody that they did not earn. They did not deserve it. They did nothing to merit the gift. And Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s grace.

It says, “When he saw the crowds” — the beginning of verse 36 — “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them.” This word “compassion” — it has a physical component to it. The word compassion means that when Jesus saw the hurt and the pain in others, that he actually experienced hurt and pain within him. He had compassion for them. So the hurt and the pain that he observed, he experienced it within himself. He saw the crowds and he had compassion for them. When Jesus saw individuals, he saw individuals who needed God’s grace. My question is: what does Jesus see in you? What does Jesus see in you?

In Psalm 78 — I’m going to reference this psalm three times; on your own you can go read the whole psalm — there are three passages from Psalm 78 that deal directly with our text. In Psalm 78 it says this: “Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.” This is the psalmist speaking of the God of the Old Testament. And it’s saying the God of the Old Testament is compassionate. That he could have been angry, rightfully so, and he could have been full of wrath, rightfully so, but that he chose to atone for their iniquity, to pay for their sin. The God of the Old Testament is compassionate. In this text about Jesus, it’s saying when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them. It’s the same God — the same God of the Old Testament, same God as the New Testament. God is compassionate. He’s compassionate and he gives grace.

What this passage also tells me is that God is rightfully angry at sin. That word “iniquity” means sin. God’s rightfully angry at sin, and he’s rightfully wrathful against sin. Which means that we are held accountable by God for our sin. We are held accountable by God for our sin. Which means there’s no excuses. There’s no blaming anyone else. There’s no justifying our actions. We are held accountable by God for our sin.

There’s a place in John 1 where it lists the word “grace” four times in just a short amount of verses. I want you to hear how it describes the person of Jesus using the word grace — four times in just a few verses. In John 1:14 it says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In verse 16: “For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ is gracious. And Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s grace. He had compassion for them.

There was a time in my life when the two words that would have described my life were anger and lust. Anger and lust. I was a mess. And I needed a gift that I didn’t deserve. I needed God to do something for me that I didn’t earn and didn’t merit. I needed him to show compassion on me, because my life was described by words like anger and lust and pride and coveting and jealousy. And the Bible teaches that those things lead to death. So what I earned was death, and I needed God’s grace. And I’m so thankful that when God looked at my life, instead of expressing his anger and his wrath, he chose to express compassion towards me. And he saw me — that I was an individual who needed God’s grace.

Why did Jesus go teaching? Why did he go proclaiming? Why did he go healing? I mean, he’s working long days, weeks, months, years. What kept him moving? Well, we see in this passage that there is a divine compassion that motivated Jesus to teach, a divine compassion that motivated Jesus to proclaim, and a divine compassion that motivated Jesus to heal. Jesus saw individuals who need God’s grace. When God looks at you, what does he see?

Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s mercy. Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s mercy. Now, grace is giving someone a gift that they don’t deserve. Mercy is not giving someone what they deserve. Not giving somebody what they deserve — it’s merciful to not give somebody what they deserve.

In verse 36, in the middle of the verse, it says, “Because they were harassed and helpless.” So when Jesus looks at the crowd, Jesus picks two words. And those two words that he uses to describe the crowd are harassed and helpless. Harassed and helpless. Now, what we know from Scripture is that the people that he was looking at — the reason they were harassed and helpless is because they had done it to themselves. They had lived in such a way that caused them to be harassed, and they lived in such a way that caused them to be helpless.

In Psalm 78 — this is the second time now I’ve referenced this psalm; you can look it up on your own, read the whole thing on your own later — Psalm 78:21–22: “Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.” Why, when Jesus saw the crowds, did he have compassion on them? Because they were harassed and helpless. They were in that state because they chose to be in that state, because they did not believe in God and they did not trust his saving power. Which — this text in Psalms helps me understand that we are held accountable by God for our lack of faith. If we do not believe in God, God will hold us accountable for that. If we are not trusting in the saving power of God, God is going to hold us accountable for that.

We’re talking about Holy Week, Palm week and Palm Sunday, where Jesus comes into Jerusalem. When Jesus comes into Jerusalem, he sees the city. He has something he wants to say about the city he sees. Listen to what Jesus says about Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless — and they were in that position because they had done it to themselves. They did not believe in God and they did not trust in his saving power.

Now, that line there — “See, your house is left to you desolate” — what that’s explaining is it’s using the term “house” to describe the dynasty, the nation of Israel, the dynasty of David, the city of Zion. That’s David’s town. “See, your house is left to you desolate.” And I want you to know, I know exactly what that means. And the reason I know exactly what that means is because I chased sin over and over and over and over and over, and I did so much damage to myself that my house was desolate. I know what it means in Romans 12 when it says that we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds — because my house was desolate and I needed God to not give me what I deserved. Because what I deserved was condemnation and spiritual death for eternity. And I needed God to not give me what I deserved. I needed him to give me something I didn’t deserve. I needed grace because I’d made my house desolate, chasing after sin. I had no idea how much I had damaged my mind. I had no idea how much pain I had caused myself and how long it would impact me into the future.

Why did Jesus teach? Why did he proclaim? Why did he heal? Why did he go to over 200 cities and villages? Why did he work with a place that had three million people in it? What motivated him? Well, man’s lost condition is motivating for Jesus to teach. And man’s lost condition is motivating for Jesus to proclaim. And man’s lost condition is motivating for Jesus to heal. Because Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s mercy — for God to not give them what they deserved. When Jesus sees you, when God looks at you, what does God see in you?

Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s shepherding. Number three: Jesus saw individuals who needed God’s shepherding. When he saw the crowds, he saw individuals, and those individuals needed God’s shepherding. In the end of verse 36 it says, “like sheep without a shepherd.” So he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And the reference for “sheep without a shepherd” actually comes out of the Old Testament. So if you want to dig this up on your own, you can do it: 1 Kings 22:17. You will find the reference for why this phrase is used — because it actually goes back into the Old Testament, about the condition of the nation of Israel.

God had provided to Israel a shepherd over and over and over and over. This is what Psalm 78 says — this is the third time I’ve referenced Psalm 78; you can look it up and read it on your own. Psalm 78:70–72: “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds. From following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel, his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” God knew the nation of Israel needed a shepherd, and God provided a shepherd for them over and over and over. And God knows that we need a shepherd. And God has provided one final shepherd for us — the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

This is what Jesus says about himself in John 10. So Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd. This is what he says in John 10:7–18: “Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’”

Twice Jesus says, “I am the door.” What is he saying when he says, “I am the door”? He’s saying: I’m the entrance. I am the only way to the Father. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. And no one can come to the Father except through me.” Acts 4:12 says, “By no other name under heaven are men saved but by the name of Jesus Christ.” He’s saying: I’m the door. I’m the entrance. I’m the only way in to the Father. I’m the only way in to salvation. I am the door.

He goes on, in verse 11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold.” And that is a reference to not just Israel. So there are sheep that Jesus has that are not just Israel — and if that were not true, then I would really have nothing to share with you right now. So I’m thankful that there are sheep that are outside of the fold of Israel, so we have a reason to be here right now. “I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Twice he says, “I am the good shepherd.”

Every single day when I wake up, I have a need in my life for my Good Shepherd. I need my Good Shepherd, Jesus, every single day. I need him to be my door. I need him to be my guide. I need him to be my protector. I need him to be my leader. I need him to be my safety. I need my Good Shepherd, Jesus, every single day.

Why did Jesus teach and proclaim and heal? What motivated him to work so hard, to go so many places, to talk to so many people? Well, it says right here: “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” God’s love is motivation for Jesus to teach and proclaim and heal. The Father loves me. God’s love motivated him. When you consider all of this, it’s pretty amazing that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down his life for the sheep. The sheep are all who need the grace of God. The sheep are all who need the mercy of God. The sheep are all who need the shepherding of God. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, he laid down his life for the sheep. And I want you to know, I’m so grateful that Jesus Christ has laid down his life for me, because I need the grace of God and I need the mercy of God and I need the shepherding of God.

How about you? How about you? Is Jesus also your Good Shepherd? Do you see him as the one who laid down his life for you? Because you need the grace of God and the mercy of God and the shepherding of God. If you want to dig into this a little bit more, I would encourage you on your own to read Psalm 23. That’s what I did this morning. I read Psalm 23. I copied the whole thing into my journal. I circled words that stood out to me. And I learned a little bit more, and I enjoyed a little bit more, about God as the shepherd of my life and what he wants to do in my life. Maybe you’d look at Matthew 11:28–30, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Two Great Words: Pray and Invite

Now, I don’t know what two words you picked at the beginning. I asked you to pick two words. I’m guessing you did. And I’m guessing some of you didn’t like the words you picked, and so you ignored them. But shouldn’t the two words about our life somehow have to do with this? The fact that God has done this for us — shouldn’t whatever two words we pick somehow be related to the fact that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down his life for the sheep? That we were in desperate need. We were desolate, and we needed grace, mercy, and shepherding — and he’s done this for us. Shouldn’t that somehow influence the two words? Maybe you want to consider picking two different words.

In Matthew chapter 9, verses 37 and 38 — the last two verses of our text — Jesus now gives the instruction of what we’re supposed to do. He says, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Why did Jesus teach, proclaim, heal? What motivated him? He’s saying the harvest is plentiful. That’s like saying: people are ready. People are ready right now. I’m going to teach because people are ready to hear it. I’m going to proclaim because people are ready to hear it. I’m going to heal because people are ready to be free. People are ready. People’s readiness is a motivation to teach and proclaim and to heal.

So what should we do? How should we respond with what God has done for us? I think we should celebrate. That’s what we plan on doing all week. In fact, we added a bunch of services. We’re going to celebrate all week long. We’re going to celebrate that the Good Shepherd has laid down his life for us. And I want to challenge you to enter into the celebration — to celebrate and be grateful for what the Good Shepherd has done, and to live in such a way that there’d be two words that would describe your life because he’s done this. And those two words are found in his instruction. He says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Those are two great words.

So how can we take those two great words and do something about it? Well, one: we could pray for people. That’s what we could do. We could pray for people, and we could invite people. I don’t know what two words the people you’re in community with would use to describe your life. But how amazing would it be if all of us, at the end of this next week, the people that we’re in community with would look back on the week and go, “Wow, that person really prays for me. That person means it. They pray for me, and they mean it. They told me they’re praying for me. That person invited me. No one invites me anywhere. That person invited me — and that person invited me to go to church with them. That person’s praying for me, and that person invited me, welcomed me in, to go to church with them.” How amazing would it be? I don’t know what two words you picked. But it’d be pretty good to respond to the Good Shepherd that we be a people who are praying and a people who are inviting — because this is it. This is the moment. It’s right here. It’s right now.

We’re going to enter into a time of prayer, and the team is going to come up right now. They’re going to restock all these cards. So — we’ve had these cards for a month, okay? They’ve been on our prayer wall. You wrote all these cards, okay? All the cards that are here, you wrote them. They’re filled with thousands of names, okay? So they’re going to spread out the rest of the cards that we have. And here’s the deal: we’re going to have a time of prayer silently, and then we’re going to have a song. And during the song, you’re going to have the opportunity to come up and grab a card. And what I would ask is that you would just have one person grab one card. Okay? We didn’t do the math. I don’t know if we have the exact amount of cards per people, okay? But do one person per card. At the end of the gathering, if there are still cards here, take as many as you want, okay? But we want all the cards to go. Here’s the thought: if you take a card, you are commissioned by Big Valley Grace Community Church to be the person who prays for those names this week. That is your job. So if you take a card, that’s serious business. Okay? You are being commissioned by your church that you are the person who’s going to pray for those names. Somebody wrote down those names because it is their loved ones that they are hoping are going to come to know Jesus Christ. You take a card — you have been commissioned as the prayer warrior for that card. That’s pretty awesome.

Then after the service today, you will not be able to exit the building without walking by a poster that has the Easter cards. We did that on purpose. You’re going to be forced to make a decision — and I want to challenge you to make the right one. Pick up some cards, and take cards to people that you’re praying for. And if you take cards, then you are being commissioned by Big Valley Grace Community Church as the person who is going to invite the people that you know. By taking the card, you’re being commissioned. You’re being sent out.

So we’re going to have a moment. We’re going to put the verse back up on the screen — Matthew 9:37–38 — and we’re just going to have a moment for a couple minutes that’s just silent. Okay? So it’s just going to be silent in here — just a couple minutes to be silent and to pray. You can look at the verse on the screen to help prompt you as you pray. But we’re going to have a couple minutes just to do what the verse says. It says, “Pray earnestly.” So let’s enter into a time of prayer right now.

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” During this next song, the team’s going to lead. You’re going to have an opportunity to come up and grab a card. Just grab one during the song. If there are still cards on the stage when we’re done with the service, come grab as many cards as you want. We want all the cards to go with people. This is our moment, church. This is our moment to obey what Jesus is asking us to do — to pray earnestly and to send out people. Those people are us. This is going to be a great moment. This is going to be a great week as we celebrate that the Good Shepherd has laid down his life for the sheep. Amen. Amen.