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“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
should have been shepherding them—the religious leaders.
Motivated by deep compassion, Jesus worked hard
to reach the people with a message of hope. There was
nothing they needed more than the good news of God’s
Kingdom.
16 Something similar happened a number of months
later, near Passover time in 32 C.E. On this occasion,
Jesus and his apostles boarded a boat and sailed across
the Sea of Galilee in search of a quiet place to rest. But a
crowd of people ran along the shore and arrived on the
other side ahead of the boat. How did Jesus react? “On
getting out, he saw a great crowd, but he was moved
with pity for them, because they were as sheep without
a shepherd. And he started to teach them many things.”
(Mark 6:31-34) Again, Jesus was “moved with pity” because
of the poor spiritual condition of the people. Like
“sheep without a shepherd,” they were starving spiritually
and left to fend for themselves. Compassion rather
than a mere sense of duty motivated Jesus to preach.
17 WhatmotivatesusasfollowersofJesustoshareinthe
ministry? As we saw in Chapter 9 of this book, we have a
commission, a responsibility, to preach and to make disciples.
(Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 9:16) But our
motive for sharing in this work must go beyond a mere
sense of duty or obligation. Above all, love for Jehovah
moves us to preach the good news of his Kingdom. Our
preaching is also motivated by compassion for those who
do not share our beliefs. (Mark 12:28-31) How, then, can
we cultivate compassion for others?
18 We need to see people as Jesus saw them—“skinned
and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” Imag-
17, 18. (a) What motivates us to share in the ministry? (b) How can
we cultivate compassion for others?