The verse is just before the story of the Feed of the Five Thousand. This story is one of the few which occurs in all four of the gospel accounts. It is a story of tremendous importance to the Church and those who retell the Jesus story.
In Mark 6:34 we gain an understanding of what preceded this act. Jesus has traveled to a lonely place so his disciples might have an opportunity to rest. The crowd who had been following him also had needs. So great was their need that they traveled on foot faster than Jesus and his disciples traveled by boat. As the boat is coming ashore, Jesus sees the crowd, and "he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."
I do have a shepherd. But often I loose sight of that shepherd and become frightened and risk being lost. Thankfully, my shepherd looks upon me with compassion, not with disdain. It surely grieves my shepherd that I get caught up in my activities and lose sight of him. But when this happens, he sees me with compassion. He feeds me, even when I should have provided provisions for myself.
Mark 6:34 comforts me in a way that few other verses do. It also guides me, in my parenting and in my ministry. It is a constant reminder that if Jesus can be so understanding of my actions, then surely I can be understanding of others.
He does have compassion on us. He will not leave us to fend for ourselves as if we were sheep with no shepherd.
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