Sheep without the Shepherd

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

SHEEP WITHOUT THE SHEPHERD

Mark 6:32-34

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 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.

NIV

Once again we see Jesus causing crowds even when he was trying to get away alone with his twelve so they could eat and rest from their most excellent adventure. But the wonderful truth in this passage is about the compassion Jesus had on those people. We also can see that unless people are exposed to the great teachings of Jesus they are simply like sheep without a shepherd. As for the most part we in this modern cultural living in a suburban setting have never actually been around sheep with enough to know how they are without a shepherd. But from all the accounts and metaphors about sheep and shepherds throughout the Bible we can get a fairly clear picture of the meaning here. It has been said that sheep are not the smartest animal in the field. Without the shepherd to watch over them, to lead them to green pastures, they might well either starve to death or wander off into some dangerous place and either hurt themselves or get killed by a predator. Without the teaching of Jesus people are the same way, they will starve to death or be killed by the predator. It does not matter how smart or intelligent people may think they are, without the teaching of Jesus they are sheep without a shepherd. Man cannot live on material things, bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. As much as people try to attain to a high place, a comfortable lifestyle, investing for their future, having great educations, degrees of honor, positions of importance, new homes, cars, boats, motorcycles, planes, and all the other material good of this world, they are lost sheep without the teachings of Jesus and because of that their destiny is death, both physical and spiritual. Those of us who have gathered around Jesus and have sat and heard his teaching know him as our “Good Shepherd” who lead us to those green pastures, and makes us to lie down beside still waters, and he restores our souls. We do not live for or because of all the material goods of this world, bread alone, but we live because of every word that comes from the mouth of God. We are saved by our Shepherd from all harm, even from death itself. We live in total safety and within the greenest of pastures, eating our full measure. In that kind of setting sheep are bound to increase in number and so must we as well. So it is clear we should beget more sheep that are members of the great flock of Jesus. Everyone should be able to experience his compassion and teaching. No one needs to be a sheep without the Shepherd.