Jesus was preaching and teaching and healing.

That’s what the text says. He was preaching and teaching and healing and he saw crowds.

The text doesn’t say, though it implies, that the crowds were coming to where he was, because of what he was doing.

The text does say, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” [Matthew 9:36].

He could have seen the crowds and thought “Just think of how much money we can generate.” He could have seen the crowds and thought, “this ministry is working.” He could have seen the crowds and thought, “take that, Pharisees.”

He didn’t think any of those things. He thought, “these people are hopeless and despairing of finding meaning in the routines and teaching they have.” He thought, “caring for a sick parent or child is leaving them harassed and hopeless, looking anywhere and everywhere for a cure.” He thought, “there is one of me and thousands of them and they need help.” He thought, “this is a job to talk to Dad about.”

When I look at workload and people, my response isn’t always to look with compassion which reflects an understanding of root causes. My response is often to look at the disruption of ministry plans or size of workload or time.

Jesus looks at the magnitude of need and responds with tenderness and prayer.

Yes, in the next section of the text he will send the disciples out to pick up the mission, to expand influence. But the first two steps are to feel compassion and to point to prayer.

When that additional interruption shows up, when there is one more broken heart or life in your way, consider compassion and prayer. Only then do something.