Shepherdology 101

What if you asked Jesus for His prayer request? “Jesus, what do you want me to pray for? What’s on your mind?”

I am delighted to report that we don’t have to speculate. Jesus told us exactly what He would like us to ask Father! Matthew reports: “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:35–38).

In verses 37-38, Jesus directs His disciples to beseech the Lord of the Harvest to raise up workers and deploy them where needed. Notice that Jesus declares no absence of opportunity: “The harvest is plentiful.” But this wide open window is not well seized! Why? Because of an acute labor shortage! Hence, His prayer for God to mobilize workers now.

What kind of labor force is needed? Does Jesus seek a specific skill set? Verse 36 tells us exactly what is required. As Jesus traveled through cities and villages, He taught, proclaimed the gospel, and healed the sick. But as He did, He became increasingly burdened by what He saw. Everywhere He went, He encountered people who were troubled and downcast and His heart felt their pain. He was deeply moved with compassion for a people who were not flourishing but floundering.

Their sad condition was most like that of a flock of sheep without a shepherd. And it was this condition that provoked him to call on His disciples to ask Father for laborers. Do you see the connection? Jesus’ prayer request is for God to raise up laborers and the condition which gives rise to His request is that of “shepherd-less” sheep.

Jesus wants us to ask Father to raise up shepherds who can engage with sheep who are discouraged and downcast. This request is what animates the heart of Jesus. It ought to animate ours, as well.

I believe the condition that prompted Jesus’ prayer request is no less acute today. Many churches have a studio quality praise band and engaging sermons. They work at drawing a crowd, creating a buzz, and striving to provide “the best hour of your child’s week.” I am not disparaging attempts to reach the unreached or to make corporate worship dynamic. But I wonder, where are the shepherds? Would Jesus look at our congregations and see the same acute shepherd shortage he saw in Matthew 9?

Jesus explained what shepherds do. We can use His description to discern the strength and engagement of the shepherd labor force. When a single sheep has strayed, a shepherd takes action: “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?” (Matthew 18:12).

Based on this passage, here are two related diagnostic questions: (1) Do the people in my church have a shepherd who will seek them out when they have gone astray? (2) If I am in trouble spiritually, is there someone who knows me well enough to know I’m in trouble and cares enough to come to my rescue, even if I haven’t asked? If most would answer no to these questions, then we are facing the same situation that moved Jesus to say, “Plead with Father to raise up a shepherd labor force.”

Shepherdology 101 is an attempt to provide the motivation and training for men to rise up and declare, “I will be an answer to Jesus’ prayer request. I will step forward as a shepherd for His flock. I will pour my energies into ministering to people who are discouraged and downcast for lack of a shepherd.”

I can assure you that for those who answer Jesus’ prayer request and step up as shepherds, it will be worth it! Here is what Peter says to shepherds who serve well: And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). When Jesus returns, He will single out those who have faithfully ministered as His under-shepherds. Then He will honor them with a glory that never fades. He will declare something like this: “You have poured your energies into precisely what is on My heart. Blessed are you – well done!”

I try to imagine Jesus personally giving me an “unfading crown of glory” for faithfulness as a shepherd. The hope of that moment propels me to shepherd well the people entrusted to my care by the Chief Shepherd! Does that hope not stir you, as well?

Are you willing to become an answer to Jesus’ prayer request? Read on!