December 10

When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things. — Mark 6:34 BSB

Jesus carried the sorrows of the people. When He looked upon those in pain, He felt their pain in His own heart. When He saw the crowds following Him, filled with suffering people—those who were lame, sick, blind, and paralyzed—His heart was moved with compassion. That same compassion still exists in the heart of the risen Lord. He didn’t lose His tenderness when He was exalted to heaven. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” Knowing that Jesus feels our pain and sympathizes with our struggles should be a great comfort to us in our sorrows.

What especially moved Jesus was seeing the people like sheep without a shepherd. Many people seem prosperous to our eyes, but when Christ looks at them, He is filled with compassion because they don’t know God.