We are all sheep. We are all at the same time shepherds by God’s grace. You can be one to help keep the sheep from being shepherdless, both with your own shepherding and leading them to see the Good Shepherd of their souls.
Jesus sees sheep without a shepherd. We do too. Many living without hope or purpose or . . . . a moral foundation to their lives. We “shepherd” as well. Watching over in different ways the spiritual lives of our families and neighbors and acquaintances. We do that through our church with called pastors and leaders. But we also do that ourselves.
We all count ourselves among the sheep who have gone astray and need our Savior. Jesus shepherds us with his grace just as he did that day in the region of Galilee with his teaching of the kingdom of God.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things (Mark 6:34).Jesus’ reaction lets us in on God’s heart:
Which they did. They started out in a boat to a remote area where no one was around and surely let out a sigh of relief. But it didn’t last long. The people tracked down where they were headed. Word got out. The crowd started forming again. Break time was over!
Great crowds turned out to see him and hear him and seek out his healing. So much so that Jesus and the disciples didn’t even have time to eat. Parents know that feeling. Those who work long hours know that feeling. There’s so much on their plates that at times even basic needs like food get pushed to the side. Jesus and the disciples had to get away for a while and rest.
As Jesus began to openly carry out his ministry as the anointed Savior promised in the Old Testament, he achieved a large level of popularity. The people were anxiously waiting for some type of leader to bring them hope, not unlike people throughout history. They saw in Jesus the potential to be that leader. They were impressed with the miracles he performed and the authority with which he spoke.