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About-Him.Com Devotional 01-17-2004
118: The Third Tour of Galilee: Mt. 9:35-38; Mk. 6:6
Matthew 9:35 ¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jesus had been rejected twice in His hometown of Nazareth and we do not read where He ever returned there. Although the religious elite would not receive Him, the multitudes still flocked around Him. He still taught in their synagogues and preached the message of the kingdom. He also healed every kind of sickness and disease.
The Pharisees had very little regard for the common people whom they called, “Children of the world.” With Jesus, it was a different matter. When He saw the multitudes of people who wandered about as sheep without a shepherd, He was moved with compassion.
Jesus turned to His disciples and remarked that the harvest was very plentiful but the laborers were few. They were instructed to pray that the Lord would send laborers into His harvest.
Conclusion and application:
It appears that this happened as the twelve were off preaching on their own. Perhaps they rejoined Him from time to time. It is hard to determine whether Jesus spoke the remarks about the harvest to the twelve or other disciples.
Jesus was concerned that the people had no shepherd. See Ezekiel 34:2-23 where the Lord condemns the shepherds who fed themselves and not His flock. He promised that He wouild come as a shepherd who would seek out His lost and scattered sheep. This He did in the face and person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who claimed the title of "The Good Shepherd” (John 10:7-14).
Jesus cares about every aspect of our lives. He died for our salvation and healing and He was chastised for our mental peace. Peter encourages us to cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7).
We should not forget our Lord’s desire that we have a burden for the lost and that we pray for laborers to be sent forth.
Today's Fresh Oil
John 9:25 .... one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
You recall how that after Jesus healed a blind man, the religious elite, who prided themselves as the keepers of heaven's gate , got a little excited. They examined the man's parent's, and then finally asked the man himself. "Who is this fellow who dared to heal on the Sabbath day? Surely He must be a sinner?" To which the man replied, " Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
How easy it is to be drawn into pointless arguments that do nothing but cause friction and division. How easy it is to find out that our knowledge on many subjects is quite limited.
How blessed it is to realize that one day we met the Savior who accepted us as we were without checking our pedigree and credentials. A relationship was formed with Him that is unshakeable. When the storms of life arise, we have confidence that He will rebuke the wind. When the cupboard gets low, we know that he will multiply the loaves and fishes once again.
There are a lot of things I don't know. There are others where I know just enough to get into trouble. There is one thing I know that will never change. I was lost and Jesus found me, I was blind but now I see. Nobody can take that away from me.
In About-Him
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The Agnostic Violinist http://about-him.com/guest39.html
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Humor
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny, a child in the kindergarten class, seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?"
Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."
Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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