Faithful Servants Share Jesus' Compassion Daily
Daily Scripture
Matthew 9:35-38, Luke 12:35-38
Luke 9
46 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him. 48 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest.”
49 John replied, “Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers.”
50 But Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you.”
Matthew 9
35 Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. 38 Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
One important job for farmers in Palestine in Jesus’ day (as for farmers today) was harvesting crops at their peak ripeness (cf. also John 4:34-35). Jesus told his followers that a ripe harvest was all around and urged them to pray for workers. Scholar N. T. Wright noted, “As [Jesus’] followers pray that prayer, the answer comes back worryingly quickly: you are, yourselves, to be the answer to your own prayer.” * Pastor Hamilton often reminds us that God usually sends people, not angels.
- Scholar William Barclay said, Jesus “took a child and placed him beside himself; that would be the seat of highest honor…. The Twelve were Jesus’ chosen lieutenants; but this child occupied no place of honor and held no official position. Jesus was saying, ‘If you are prepared to spend your lives serving, helping, loving people who, in the eyes of the world, do not matter at all, you are serving me and serving God.’” ** How did Jesus’ simple act highlight his far-reaching compassion?
- Jesus grounded his ministry in his compassion for “the crowds,” the common people the religious leaders looked down on. Scholar William Barclay said, “it describes the compassion which moves a man to the deepest depths of his being…. He could not see a sufferer but he longed to ease the pain.” ** How can you join Jesus in his compassionate desire to express his love to people around you who are “like sheep without a shepherd”?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, keep maturing and ripening my inner life with you. And ready my heart to take up my part in bringing in the human harvest you yearn to gather all around me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Ginny Howell
Ginny Howell, who serves as the Worship Experience Director for Resurrection, wrote today's Insights, which we first published just a little over a year ago. She leads the church’s efforts to provide radical hospitality and an excellent worship experience across all of our locations. She’s a mom to three, g-momma to one sweet little boy, and shares much of her time with her closest companion, a rescued Pit Bull named Lola.
A few things about our Scripture passage today give me pause. Let’s dig into those for just a minute.
First off, didn’t these disciples have something better to do than argue about who was the greatest? Doesn’t seem like real disciple-like behavior to me.
Second, news flash–you can’t hide from God, and neither could the disciples. Even when they were off task, driven by ego (or possibly a desire to burst the ego of others), Jesus was aware of their deepest thoughts.
Third, and I think most valuable to recognize, Jesus didn’t join the argument. Before addressing the group, he took a very deliberate action, which made his words far more impactful. The act of placing the child next to him spoke louder than the words that were to come, and likely quieted down the group because it was counter cultural to place such importance on a child in Jesus’ day.
This is the Jesus I love, the one who sees us in our full humanity, self-centered and off course, and loves us enough to set us straight. Not with a sharp tongue or stern spirit, but with intentional and thoughtful actions, always demonstrating what the compassionate love of God is really about. Even when we talk back, as James does later in the passage, Jesus breaks down the us vs. them mindset and reminds us that everyone has a seat at the table. ‘Whoever isn’t against you is for you.’ Not being in the group was of no consequence to Jesus–his compassion was for “the crowds,” not just for a select few.
At a time in our history when we are bombarded with polarizing words and actions, I am grateful for this reminder of how Jesus prioritized people and valued welcoming the stranger, helping the hurt, feeding the hungry, caring for the widow and orphan…’Whoever is the least among you all is the greatest.’
May we reflect this image of God’s compassionate love as we live out our lives today.
© 2025 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N.T., Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 (The New Testament for Everyone) (pp. 109-110). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
** William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke (Revised Edition). Westminster John Knox Press, 1975, p. 127.
*** William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1 Chapters 1–10 (Revised Edition). Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, pp. 354-355.
