HEAL - God's Heart for Healing in MatthewSample

Jesus has Compassion on the Crowds

Jesus traveled through the towns and villages teaching, preaching and healing every disease and sickness. This scripture makes a point to describe the crowds he encountered as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. But the Good Shepherd had arrived and was able to meet their every need.

Jesus saw these heavily burdened people with eyes of compassion. But he didn’t just see their physical ailments, he saw what burdened their hearts and souls. He saw a field of people ripe for a spiritual harvest and he challenged his disciples to pray and ask the Lord to send more workers.

Questions:

1.    Have you ever felt beaten down and helpless like the crowds in this story?

2.    What does this tell you about Jesus’ desire for healing beyond the physical?

3.    What is our role when it comes to the harvest field?