1. Dr. Fred Craddock -when he was a little boy hoeing cotton encountered a snake - I didn't know what kind just - belonging to the category of snake - daddy said "hang on the fence and it will be die when the sun goes down'

2. People are not all the same just as snakes aren't the same - "category human"

3. Red, yellow, black, brown - rich, poor, fat, skinny - Asian, Slavic - Saved and Lost

4. How does Jesus see people? thru the eyes of compassion

  I. Jesus saw the "person"

     A. v. 36 "When He saw" - He saw people

         1. a multitude - imagine PANTHER STADIUM - what do you see? a mass of people - Billy Graham crusade not a seat available anyplace

         2. Jesus saw the multitude - He saw each individual, He knew at a glance their hearts, whole lives from beginning  to end - their relationship to God

         3. He did not look upon them as being poor or rich; famous or nobodies - women or men

         4. I like to people watch when my wife drags me to the mall - I see what they wear, the shape of their bodies, their hair - I think about what their personality is like - if they go to church etc. - I see the person

         5. when it says "Jesus saw them" this is what the scripture means - He saw each and every one of them as a person! Not as a multitude

   B. We are to see people as "persons" not people, not things, not enemies, not means to something else

       1. If we learn anything today, If God speaks to us - let us hear "See people as PERSONS"

       2. What rubs us the wrong way -- bureaucracy "take a number and take a seat until your number is called - being seen as a number or another "task"

       3. the crazy movie BEETLEJUICE - the waiting room, sitting beside the witchdoctor, steals his number, shrinks his head

       4. our society sees us as numbers not as "person"

       5. Jesus saw "Persons" not people -He calls us to do the same

 II. v. 36 JESUS SAW HURT

     A. The people were Harassed and helpless

         1. Temptations are harassment - the Devil never stops

         2. Not only harassed but notice - helpless - they had little defense against the temptations

         3. they were persecuted by the priests and by the Romans - remember these were defeated people, conquered by Roman

    B. A Captive people are a suffering people

        1. Moses came to set the slaves free - "Free my people"

        2. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 "To preach deliverance to the captives, and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of reward.

   C. In our day

       1. Captives of sin - harassed and helpless

       2. Daily bombardment to "sin" - we get it from society, movies, TV the internet

       3. cheat on taxes, cheat of spouses, cheat the company

   D. We are hurting people - helpless

       1. Where will you turn? who cares for you?

       2. Jesus sees you, He has compassion for you - He offers you a way to resist, a way to overcome - If you trust Him

IV. JESUS SAW THEY HAD NO SHEPHERD

     A. Life is hard when you are alone

         1. God understood this - He gave Adam a Mate - a helpmeet - help meet the mortgage payment, help pay the bills, help plant and harvest the crops

         2. We need someone to help and to guide - we need God

   B. A shepherd not a companion

         1. God knows we can’t make the best decisions alone - we get into trouble following our own advise!

         2. A shepherd took the sheep to pasture, brought them in, led them to water, protected from predators, ministered to them when they were sick

         3. Now ask yourself, "Don’t you want a shepherd to do those things for you?"

         4. Jesus was moved to Compassion because they had NO SHEPHERD - He wanted to care for them - to care for you

1. Verse 37 - Then He said to His disciples - He wanted them to be involved - To see the people the way He saw them

2. Yes - you need a shepherd but you also need to be involved reaching out to others - helping THE SHEPHERD

3. Open your eyes and see those around you in need, those that are hurting - have compassion that reaches out

4. Allow the Lord to lead you - yes, you are hurting - He is calling to you to come to Him