Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov 1/61

Contributor - Corstain Klein

Title - He Had Compassion For Them

Topic - Meditation

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Matt. 9: 36

These words give us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus. They show us how he viewed His own countrymen. They show us that he was concerned about the spiritual needs of the people who lived in the cities and villages of His country. These words may well be the words that we write over the month of November, the month that is chosen to emphasize our mission in the homeland.

Our Church has set the month of November aside to be the time in which we give thought to our Mission to a continent. As Jesus was moved with compassion for the crowds to which he spoke in the cities and villages of Palestine, so we are to have compassion for the multitudes in our cities and villages throughout our land who know not Christ as Saviour and Lord. Jesus was moved with compassion for the people because they were 'harassed and helpless', as sheep having no shepherd. His heart went out to them because He saw that they were without God and hope in the world. These are strong words that are used to describe what the Dutch translates Jesus saw.

This way 'daar ze voortgejaagd en afgemat waren'. They picture a flock of sheep being attacked by wolves and helpless to defend themselves against them.

We do not often look upon our fellow man in this way. As we meet the unchurched on the street we do not see him as without God and without hope in the world. We do not see that he is helpless to defend himself against the hard blows that life delivers. To us he appears to be all right. We may even, as the psalmist in Psalm 73, tend to envy him, and think that he has it easier than we do. He appears to be so well adjusted, and so satisfied with life. But, our Lord looks upon him in his spiritual need, and the eye of faith must also see him as he is spiritually.

The man of the world, the man who has lost his way to church, cannot speak of that only comfort in life and in death that we have in Christ Jesus. For him there is nothing to carry him through the hard places in life, the hardships of sickness, the sorrow of losing loved ones, and he has no light to dispel the shadows in the valley of death. He is indeed harassed and helpless. But Jesus has compassion on him, and He wants to express that compassion for him through YOU and me. We must read carefully what follows this verse. There you note that Jesus sends His disciples to the cities and villages to meet the needs of these people.

The thing that I want you to not ice especially, is the fact that the disciples had special instructions not to go to the Gentiles, nor to enter the towns of the Samaritans, but that they were to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Why did He restrict them to go only to the Jews? Was it because He had no interest in Gentiles and the Samaritans? Was it because only the Jews were 'harassed and helpless'? Of course not! We know that Jesus later sent His disciples into all the world. But Jesus sends them to a specific people to perform a specific task. Perhaps, the disciples were not really so much different than we are. It is not too difficult to inspire interest in sup porting the work of Missions abroad or in other cities. it is much more difficult to get enthused about reaching those near you.

This text reminds us that we have a specific task to a specific people. We too have a responsibility over against those of our n national and cultural background. It is good that we are interested in the, orphans in Korea, and the heathens in Japan, and the unevangelized the world over, but let us not forget that Jesus wants us to begin to show that concern at home. Should each of us not take it upon ourselves to have compassion for the unchurched in our area and speak to them about their spiritual need?

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