The Good Shepherd who Sees You

There's something woven into the fabric of every human heart—a deep longing to be seen. Not just noticed in passing, but truly seen. We want to know that our struggles matter, that our pain isn't meaningless, that someone understands the weight we carry. This universal desire points us toward a profound truth: we were made for a Shepherd who not only sees us but acts on our behalf.

When Religion Fails
In Matthew chapter 9, we encounter a striking contrast between two types of spiritual leadership. On one side stand the religious leaders of Israel—the Pharisees and priests who maintained their system, protected their status, and managed their institutions. On the other side stands Jesus, who moves through cities and villages with a completely different approach.

The tragedy isn't just that the religious leaders were busy. It's that they had made peace with spiritual darkness. They had accommodated themselves to the status quo while people around them remained trapped in bondage—blind, mute, demon-oppressed, and helpless. They offered a system of rules, hoops to jump through, and gatekeepers to satisfy. But they offered no real transformation.

The people weren't primarily suffering from political oppression or economic hardship, though those were real. Their deepest bondage was spiritual. And the shepherds who should have been fighting this battle had instead settled for maintaining appearances.

Three Marks of a True Shepherd
Making Himself Available
When two blind men followed Jesus through the streets crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David," Jesus didn't send them away. He didn't tell them to make an appointment or talk to someone else. He stopped. He invited them into the house. He gave them his attention, his time, his presence.

This is revolutionary. The Creator of the universe made himself accessible to desperate beggars. He asked them about their faith: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Then he touched their eyes and healed them.

Where were the Pharisees during all this? They had seen these blind men for years. They knew they were there. But they were too busy maintaining their system to actually help anyone.

A true shepherd goes where the people are. He doesn't hide behind programs or administrative duties. He makes himself available to those who need him most.

Bringing Personal Transformation
Jesus didn't just see these blind men—he touched them. He reached out physically and changed their lives forever. "According to your faith be it done to you," he said. And their eyes were opened.

What's remarkable is what happened next. Jesus told them not to tell anyone, but they went out and spread the news everywhere. Did Jesus punish them for this "disobedience"? No. Because when Jesus transforms your life, you can't help but talk about it. The true shepherd doesn't withhold his care because his sheep are imperfect. He heals according to faith, not flawless obedience.

Immediately after, a demon-oppressed man who couldn't speak was brought to Jesus. Without hesitation, Jesus cast out the demon and the man spoke. The crowds marveled, saying they had never seen anything like this in Israel.

This is what separates true shepherds from false ones. The Pharisees demanded perfection before acceptance. Jesus gives healing that leads to transformation. He meets you where you are, touches what's broken, and when you stumble, he doesn't abandon you.

Offering Himself, Not a System
The Pharisees' response to the healing reveals everything: "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." Why would they say such a thing after witnessing an obvious miracle? Because Jesus threatened everything their system was built on.

Their entire way of life said: Come to the temple on our schedule. Bring the right sacrifices. Prove your worth through your works.

Jesus said: I come to you. Your weak faith is enough. I fix what's broken.

When people realized they could go directly to Jesus, the whole religious system became unnecessary. No wonder they hated him. Jesus made them obsolete.

Even after their attack, Jesus kept going. He continued teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the gospel, and healing every disease and affliction. Why? Because when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them. They were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

What Does This Mean for Us?
First, we must come to the Shepherd who actually sees us. The blind men didn't ask permission or clean themselves up first. They simply cried out, "Have mercy on us." That's all it takes. Come with nothing and gain everything.

The question Jesus asks each of us is simple but profound: "Do you believe I am able?" Is he able to heal your brokenness? Deal with your shame? Free you from whatever binds you? Your brokenness isn't a barrier to Jesus—it's a signpost pointing you to your need for him.

Second, we must learn to recognize true shepherding. When we see God working in unexpected ways or through people we don't control, what's our response? Do we celebrate that captives are being freed? Or do we critique methods and maintain our systems?

Third, we need to bring each other to Jesus. The demon-possessed man couldn't come on his own—he needed others to carry him. Some days we're the blind men crying out for help. Other days we're so bound by sin we can't even get out of bed. We need each other to point the way to Jesus, to carry one another when necessary, to create spaces of confession without condemnation.

Finally, we must be shepherds like Jesus in a watching world. The world doesn't need more religious arguments. They need to see marriages restored, addicts freed, anxious people at peace. They need Christians who admit they're broken, who speak truth without condescension, who actually see people where they are.

The Choice Before Us
The Pharisees wanted control. Jesus offered compassion. The Pharisees built a religious system. Jesus freed the captives.

The question each of us must answer is this: Which spirit do we carry into the world? Do we make people dependent on us or on Jesus? Do we celebrate when others grow, even if it looks different than we expected? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones to bring the harassed and helpless to the one true Shepherd?

The stunning truth of the gospel is that God sees you. He understands you better than you understand yourself. But he doesn't just see and feel—he acts. He came as the Good Shepherd to do what false shepherds refused to do: bring healing, freedom, and abundant life.

And he's still seeking the lost sheep today.