Jesus Needs Under-Shepherds
David W Palmer
(Matthew 9:35 DKJV) “And Jesus led [his disciples] around all the towns and villages, teaching in their local synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”
Jesus’s personal ministry was a huge success, and he was having an amazing impact everywhere he went. However, when he saw the state of the multitudes, he could see a problem that he couldn’t solve alone:
(Matthew 9:36 NKJV) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Consequently, the “Good Shepherd” was “moved” into action. Jesus didn’t simply lament or whinge about what was lacking in the church, so to speak; he took some action. Motivated by “compassion,” the Head of the Church knew instantly what was needed to solve this problem. Despite copious scribes, Pharisees, lawyers, and synagogue leaders, etc., the people were simply not being shepherded. Jesus needed to find, train, and release some new shepherds—those who would operate with his heart and under his covering to care for his father’s flock:
(Matthew 9:37–38 NKJV) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
None of us want to criticize Jesus’s church (it’s his bride) or its faithful leaders who have laid down their independence to follow his call to serve. But like Jesus, we see that the need is still great. Jesus implies that the solution to this crisis is “good” shepherds—those who will follow his example in helping his flock:
(John 10:11 NKJV) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
This is the first qualification Jesus is looking for; a truly good shepherd “gives” his life for the sheep. This is vastly different from hoarding what you have received from Jesus, having it taken from you, or having the water of “life” dragged out of a reluctant heart. Jesus needs shepherds who will freely give the overflow of what they are receiving from him:
(Matthew 10:8 NKJV) “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
The second qualification is self-risking protection for the flock—not because you get rewarded for it, but for love and because you take “ownership” of your Shepherd-King’s vision:
(John 10:12–13 NLT) “A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. {13} The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.”
Today, I want to encourage you; don’t feel inadequate because you are not a qualified counselor, or because you don’t have a ministry credential or a doctorate in theology. Instead, realize that in Jesus, in his word, and when clothed in his “power from on high,” you are able to fulfill his call:
(Luke 24:49 ESV) “… stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
(2 Corinthians 3:6 CSB) “He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Can I also encourage you today to prayerfully identify the people for whom Jesus has given you his shepherd’s heart; whom do you love enough to lay your life down for? Whose enemies are you willing to take on? To whom are you moved by compassion to the point that you want to freely pour into them the overflow of the life, healing, and love that you have received from Jesus?
Take these people to heart—whether it is a small group, people in need of salvation, a church flock, or a whole remote people-group. Your shepherding role begins in prayer and then spiritual warfare to protect them. It includes leading them in spiritual matters, and feeding them from the revelation that you have freely received from heaven—and love, copious amounts of love, encouragement, affirmation, listening, and godly wisdom.
Shepherding God’s people is not overly complicated, but it does take humility and the laying down of your life. With his help, and with his love poured into your heart for them, you can make a difference. Jesus can use you to gather the scattered sheep, bringing them to his rest, refreshing, and restoration (See: Psalm 23).
Remember, you are not alone in this; the greater one inside you is the Good Shepherd. He will flow his compassion, healing, love, and power for miracles through you and give you wisdom as you open your heart to his scattered, weary sheep today.
