Jesus couldn’t get away from the crowds. It’s a recurring theme in Mark’s gospel . . . no matter where Jesus went, people followed. No matter how much He tried to “get away” He couldn’t get far. Where Jesus was, people gathered . . . where Jesus went, people followed. And you could think that after a while it might get a bit tiresome . . . not having “your own space”. But not for the Lord . . . how come?

Reading in Mark 6 this morning, I find Jesus wanting to get away with His disciples. He had sent them out, two by two, on a ministry trip . . . giving them power over unclean spirits, power to heal, and power to preach the need for repentance (6:7-13). They had gone out and now they were gathering to Jesus to report out what they had done and what they had taught (6:30). They were exhausted . . . they were hungry . . . it had been intense . . . and Jesus knew they need a little down-time . . . some R&R . . . time to debrief . . . time to decompress . . . “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while,” He said to them (6:31) . . . and so, they departed to a deserted place in a boat by themselves (6:32).

A deserted place . . . by themselves . . . sounded pretty good. “But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him” (6:33). What they had anticipated as being a “deserted place” now teemed with people . . . what was to be a bit of one-on-twelve intimate fellowship was now a tent meeting. And Mark writes that, when Jesus came upon this “great multitude”, He “was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd” (6:34).

Far from “hitting the wall” with the constant throng of people around Him, Jesus was moved within the depths of His being with a heart of sympathy and yearning for these people. He knew their shallowness . . . most were there for what they could get from Him . . . very few had any real understanding of who He was, or of the true depths of spiritual healing He could provide them. But they had come . . . and He was moved as He looked out over them. They were like sheep . . . sheep without a shepherd . . . sheep without someone to lead them to pastures where they could feed. And so, He began to teach them many things . . . His words being their guide . . . His words offered up as their food.

He is the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) . . . the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1Peter 2:25) . . . the One who will shepherd His people and lead them to living fountains of waters where God will wipe away ever tear (Rev. 7:17).

And one of the driving forces of our Shepherd is a compassion that moves Him when He looks out at the sheep. There are those outside the fold that He longs to bring in . . . there are those who are part of the flock but have wandered off . . . and then, there are those who seek to follow the Shepherd despite their “dumb sheep” inclinations. And He looks at the crowd . . . and He’s moved with compassion. That’s the heart of my Shepherd.

While sometimes I might think that He’s frustrated with me as I seem to keep tripping over my sheep feet, I’m reminded this morning of His Shepherd’s heart . . . and His desire for the sheep of His flock . . . His patience toward those He knows by name . . . toward those who know and seek His voice. He doesn’t grow weary of the crowd’s pursuit . . . He doesn’t lose sight of the individual’s need . . . but as a Shepherd, He longs to care for them.

Moved with compassion . . . that’s my Shepherd . . . thank You, Father!