Jesus Moved with Compassion - Mark 6:34

Mark wrote how “the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come you yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him”, and in chapter six and verse thirty-four of his book, Mark wrote how, “Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them” where we read:

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

The verse reads, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, ...” Mark began with the words, “and Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”, “when he came out” or “at the time and moment Jesus left and departed the boat”, “saw much people” or “observed, perceived and noticed the large crowd and multitude”, “and was moved with compassion” which means “and yearned within with sympathy and pity” “toward them” or “to the multitude”. Mark shared how Jesus observed the “multitude” and had great “sympathy and pity” for them.

The verse goes on to say, “... because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” Mark continued with the words, “because they were as sheep” which means “since and on account that the people in the crowd were like four footed, tame animals that were accustomed to graze” “not having a shepherd” which means “without a herdsman or one who presides over, controls and oversees sheep”: “and he began to teach them” or “and Jesus started and initiated instruction and didactic doctrine concerning” “many things” which means “lots of different areas and principles”. Mark shared how Jesus was “compassionate” toward the crowd because they appeared to Him to be like a flock of “sheep” who had no “shepherd”, so He began to give them instruction in the ways of God.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how “loving and caring” Jesus is toward people. Though He and His disciples were “exhausted and in need of rest and refreshment”, He saw how needy the people were and began to “teach” them. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus to “care” for them both physically and spiritually. His desire is to minister to the needs of people so they will yield their lives to Him as brothers and sisters in Christ, and when people understand how “compassionate” He is, they have the opportunity to respond by yielding their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and enjoy His care for them throughout all eternity.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples tell Him, “this is a desert place, and now the time is far passed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".