Is it not providential that last week’s sermon ended at Matthew 9:34? The next three verses read like this:
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 every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 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." -Matthew 9:35-38Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He went throughout that region teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The gospel of the Kingdom of God is the good news of Jesus coming to seek and save the lost. It is the good news of Jesus Christ, a Savior come to rescue desperate sinners.
Yes, desperate because of the effects of sin in this world. Yes, there is disease and affliction, and broken relationships, and abuse, and addiction, and homelessness, and joblessness, and teenagers, adults, and seniors without purpose. But their desperation is even greater because of the long-term ramifications of their own sin before a holy and just God.
When Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them. Do you know why? Because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. They don’t know what to do. They don’t know where to turn. They don’t know the Good Shepherd. That describes everyone who has not humbles themselves and place their hope in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
So yes, let’s “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” God is the Lord of the harvest. It is His harvest. So let us pray earnestly. And let us invite. And let us greet. And let us reach out to sinners on Sunday and show them the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Let us show the compassion of Jesus to those who are harassed, and helpless, and without the Good Shepherd.
