Jesus was deeply moved with compassion for people, knowing that they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Compassion should lead us to pray for our sin-sick world, with a willingness to be the answer to that prayer. We should also follow Christ’s example by personally interacting with others and meeting them at their point of need: loving, forgiving, and caring. The cross is the ultimate expression of the compassion of Jesus.
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)