Matthew 9:35-10:8
Pastor Ron Koehler Grace—Tucson, AZ June 28, 2026
If the driver is annoyed by the person sitting in the passenger seat constantly telling them where they should turn, what street to take, why they should do this…who is the person who doesn’t like to be led? It’s both, right? The driver doesn’t like the passenger trying to lead them, and the passenger is not content to let the driver take the lead and get them where they are going. We all have those times when we don’t care for someone leading us. It’s the child who doesn’t want to hold grandma’s hand while walking along a busy street. It’s the young person who doesn’t care for his parents’ rules. We think we know better than the boss sometimes. We don’t always behave when we don’t want someone else leading us either. The husband and wife in the car have attitudes as they disagree on the route. The child yells, “No!” The young person sulks or just does what they want to do anyway. We say some things that are not so nice about the boss. When it comes to Jesus leading us, it’s different. And we should behave differently as he leads us. He knows the perfect way. He’s the perfect hand-holder. His guidance is perfectly crafted for our good. So, we can trust him…and follow him…and listen to him. Notice today that Jesus Leads Us…with Compassion and into His Harvest Field. Jesus Leads Us with Compassion Have you ever noticed that as you read the gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—that Jesus is constantly moving. He doesn’t grab a table at the Galilee Seaside Café and wait for people to come to him. He doesn’t sit up on a mountaintop waiting for people seeking his wisdom to climb up. He taught in the synagogues, he preached outdoors, he talked as he walked along and when he met with individuals. He goes to the people—village after village and town after town. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. They needed to know about God and salvation. They were sick and hurt. So, Jesus went to them. We get some insight into his feelings too: When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Have you ever looked at someone’s difficult or tragic situation, and your feelings were so strong that it was like your gut hurt, your heart ached, you had this deep empathy— maybe it even moved you to tears? If you know what I’m talking about, then you know the kinds of feelings Jesus had when he saw the people around him. It broke his heart.