Jesus
saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them
because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many
things. Mark
6:34
Where is the shepherd?
Are these sheep without a shepherd?
Are you?
Then
Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly
time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) John 6:3-4
He
welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who
were sick. Luke
9:11b
Meditate.
Read this scripture again and listen to what God is saying.
Jesus compared these people to sheep
without a shepherd. Did He see Himself as their shepherd? Do shepherds
teach their sheep anything? Sheep are considered to be pretty stupid animals.
They’ll blindly follow another sheep and eat continually. Consider Psalm 23 and
how that shepherd cares for his sheep.
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all
that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside
peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will
not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and
comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor
me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your
goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will
live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6 NLT (Underlined for emphasis.)
When this shepherd guides the sheep along the
right path, could he be teaching them? I think maybe so, since teaching is
imparting knowledge and instruction, which could ultimately bring honor to the
teacher. That is what the teacher and shepherd are doing—guiding the student or
sheep along the right path. Have you ever experienced a teaching method that
guides a student along the right path? Old grade school reading instruction or
programs did just that, as they encouraged students to survey the reading
assignment, read, review, and then recite. Yes. That encouragement directed
students down the right path.
These passages tell us that Jesus
taught them many things—possibly a review or recitation of His Sermon on the
Mount. We do have the specific information that Jesus taught them about the
Kingdom of God. What is that Kingdom? He is. Heaven on earth…and ultimately in
the heavenly place of Heaven.
What do we learn about Jesus’ character from these
scripture passages?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, would I have crowded You if I had been living at the time You
were on earth? Would I have followed You from place to place waiting to see You
perform more miracles and heal more people? Good questions. Do I do that now? Like
lots of others, I wait for You to heal family and friends—but that doesn’t
always happen. Still, You are my Shepherd—and I put my trust in You.
Verses
of Salvation ~ Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and
die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the
love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends
to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those
who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there
he rules over everything. Psalm
103:15-19
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
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