Thankful That Jesus Cares for All the Lost Sheep of the World

Have you ever spent time “people watching?” As Kathy, and Mary, and I have been traveling, we have visited some big cities including Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, and London. We have traveled by plane, by ship, by train, by bus, and by Uber. We have encountered people from all over the world speaking numerous languages. I believe that watching the faces of the people we have encountered tells their stories, at least in part.

On Monday, June 27, I watched a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter walking the streets of London. Actually, we were on a bus to catch a train, or the tube, so that we could visit the sites of London. They were walking the same route as our bus, and they ended up sitting on the same train on which we traveled. The face of the mother caught my attention first. She seemed angry, yet determined. If I read her face correctly, she had been hurt by someone, or something, and had not yet forgotten the hurt. But, she was determined to continue living, in spite of her hurt.

The grandmother, I believe the mom or grandmother, had a different look. She appeared sad and weary. Perhaps she had encountered her own difficulties in life. Yet I also believe she was sad for her daughter’s trials. Now, I am just reading into what I saw. I would like to have sat down with them and listened. But, you know there are 9 million people in London, each with a story.

Interestingly, the young daughter or granddaughter in this trio, who appeared to be about 7 or 8 years old, seemed very happy. In watching, I believe that she was loved by her mother and her grandmother and perhaps didn’t know of the struggles of her family. But, in the faces of the older of the two women I could see a need for someone who truly cared for them.

On the same train on Monday I watched another mother and her teenage daughter. The daughter was a person with downs syndrome. But, mom appeared at peace. I could see love in the mother’s face. The daughter appeared inquisitive, yet happy.

On our planes and on our ship, on the streets of Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Paris, and London, I have watched many people and read many faces. Some look beaten down, tired, and full of despair. But others appear defiant, and look willing for a challenge or a fight. Some look self assured – proud and arrogant even. Those in families often appear happy, and ready for the adventures of life to come. But, we have also seen couples fighting and shouting at one another. Their faces revealed anger, hatred even. Every face seems to have a story.

As I watched so many people, I could not help but think of the words of Jesus in Matthew. First, the Scripture reveals Jesus’ concern for people who are troubled by life. Listen to what God’s Word says. “35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9::35-36) I saw “harassed and helpless people” as I visited the towns and villages and watched those passing me. Jesus cares for those people!

Yet, listen to more words of Jesus in Matthew 11. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-29) Every one of the people I watched is important to our Lord. He knows their burdens, their hearts, their hurts. Jesus knows their pride and their sin. For every one of these people, some who feel that no one in this life cares for them, some who feel that life is nothing but pain, for each of them JESUS HAS COMPASSION AND LOVE. In fact, Jesus has so much compassion that He came to earth and took on our burdens, and our suffering. Jesus cares so much He paid the price of the sin which causes our struggles. Jesus cares so much that he calls us to Himself so that HE can give us His love, His care, and so that He can give us life!

The verses in Matthew 9 about Jesus’ compassion teach us what is on His heart, but not necessarily what Jesus spoke to His disciples. Yet, listen to Jesus actual words to His disciples about those who were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:27-28) Jesus wants His children to share His care and His love with those who are “harassed and helpless!”

We in Alaska are incredibly blessed. We live in an enormous state with incredible beauty, but also a state which is sparsely populated. We can enjoy the blessings of God’s creation as perhaps no one else on earth. However, in our sparse state and our blessed lives, we can forget that there are almost 8 billion people in the world, people who are sheep of our Lord needing His love and care and salvation. It can be easy to forget the “harassed and helpless” to whom Jesus says, “Come unto me.”

Do you see the stories in the faces around you? Are you willing to pray for workers in the harvest so these people learn of God’s love in Jesus? Are you personally willing to share the love of Jesus with others who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd?”