“Sheep Need Shepherds” – MARK 6:30-35

The compassion of Jesus was focused upon the lost sheep of Israel.

Her leaders had failed her (6:34) for centuries. The kings had behaved exactly as foretold by Samuel and the nation suffered the loss of the 10 northern tribes forever, and the devastation of the remnant that returned to rebuild Jerusalem. The priests did not provide the needed leadership to guide the people spiritually during these difficult times.  Perhaps you have personally seen the devastation caused by ungodly, unqualified shepherds.

Even so, the people had also failed themselves.

Led by their shepherd Moses, most rebelled and the flock was devastated. Led by Judges, most did what was right in their own eyes and the tribes were plundered and oppressed. They knew right from wrong and still followed unfaithful kings into spiritual infidelity.

Notice how Jesus is tending to the disciples (6:31).

His compassion directs them to take care of their physical needs as much as their spiritual needs. The needed rest and the Shepherd directed them in that direction. Christians should know what to do. Like these disciples who had been practicing resting for all of their lives, sometimes we need leaders to remind us to take care of the necessary things for our own good. Jesus had led these men by His example and through His teaching. They had gone away from Him and done and taught as He trained them to do (6:30).

It is the Christian’s duty to follow our godly shepherds.

Notice how the disciples follow their Shepherd (6:32). Having returned from the journey He had commissioned them to undertake (6:7-11), they obeyed His directive to rest. Obviously absent is grumbling and arguing over His leadership. They go and do without offering any “alternative plans” or making any demands. Shepherds and sheep have mutual responsibility to each other. The lost sheep of Israel that Jesus saw before Him had been scattered by poor shepherds or had wandered away by themselves. However they got there, they were lost.

Christians owe it to themselves to follow godly leadership as an integral component of their personal holiness as they take personal responsibility for their actions.

Notice the reaction of the multitudes (6:33). They were watching these events unfold and figured out where the disciples and Jesus were heading. They did not wander aimlessly, but anticipated the move and arrived before them. Sheep do not need to get out in front of shepherds or go in directions they are not headed, but we can help them beyond measure if we will take personal initiative in our spiritual lives.

Sometimes Christians adopt the philosophy that shepherds must drag them along. This is a pitiful state for a flock to be in. Other times Christians try to go off on their own agendas and force the shepherds to drive them. We need to simply follow the shepherds faithfully.

Even to the point that we can take the initiative and anticipate the guidance.

A flock that moves in such harmony is a flock that is rested and not worn down, and one that is there waiting for the next feeding opportunity (6:34b).