Again we see a summary of Jesus ministry: teaching, proclaiming, healing. All three should be a part of the churches ministry today, but notice also that healing is listed third. Miraculous healings should be part of the life of a people who are walking with God, but they are the consequence and the confirmation of the gospel. Jesus went to every town and village, the good news was for everywhere.
What do we see when we look at the people? Jesus had compassion on them for He saw that they were "harassed and helpless", and He also saw that there was a harvest that was ready. May God give us the same eyes to see.
What was His response? First, what is a common evangelical response? To make people feel guilty for not being concerned enough about evangelism. Now it is absolutely true that we are not concerned enough about evangelism, but if making people feel guilty about it was going to do any good the problem would have been solved ages ago.
Jesus response was to ask the "Lord of the harvest" to send forth workers. As Paul says in Romans 10, how can someone preach unless they are sent. We need God to work in our hearts to produce fruit that will last.
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