“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.” (Mark 6:34)
Jesus wanted his disciples to have a quiet time by themselves in a solitary place. But the people recognized them and saw them leaving and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them, even though Jesus did not invite or announce his plan to them.
How did Jesus view the milling crowd who ignored Jesus’ disciples’ program? Look at verse 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.” Why did Jesus have compassion on them? It was because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Why are sheep without a shepherd to be pitied?
First, when sheep do not have shepherds, they wander around. Sheep are like tender newborn infants. The shepherd must go ahead and lead them to green pastures and help them avoid poisonous grass. Shepherds have to lead them to waters when they are thirsty. In the evening, shepherds lead them to the sheep pen. But when they do not have shepherds, they go astray and are caught by wild beasts and torn to death. We are living in postmodern times. Especially, pleasure seeking and materialism rule the modern society. If one criticizes homosexuality in public, he will be in big trouble, probably even with a possibility of being arrested. Modern society is like Sodom and Gomorrah. Intellectuals follow the social consensus without thinking.
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