Compassion for the Crowd: Reflection on Matthew 9:35-38

Matthew tells us that Jesus sees the crowd sympathetically, as "harassed and helpless". But were these not the same people who had rebelled against God in ages past: wanting to return to Egypt, asking for a king, worshipping idols, and practicing child sacrifice? Moreover, is this not the same crowd who in a few short years would turn on Jesus and assent to his execution, declaring, “His blood is on us and on our children” (Matt. 27:25)?

Jesus knew the complexity of motives, longings, and desires in the human heart. He knew the selfishness and the hard-heartedness. He was tempted, and he sympathized with their weakness (Heb. 4:15). What we see in Jesus is not a superficial compassion, but one that sees and recognizes the complexities of human experience – nay, the depravity of it – and loves us the same. For we are in the crowd, that day in Galilee and on the day he was killed: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:7)

So when Jesus says that they are “harassed and helpless”, that is not all he sees; he sees each of us in our entirety, as whole beings, not reduced to a single element or experience. Moreover, Jesus’s compassion is not based on some balancing of good and evil actions or on proximity to or distance from power. It is not circumstantial or contingent. Rather, it is core to God’s very nature, as Isaiah (55:7-9) writes:

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.  Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

”

This is a mercy— a compassion—that we can rely on, and that we see Jesus exemplifying when he looks at the crowd. He does not despise them or disdain their weakness. He is the shepherd that they need, though it costs him his life. Jesus later declares (John 10:10-11) that:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

How might we respond? First, to recognize and internalize the deep reality of God’s mercy and love for each of us, to see ourselves in the crowd in all our humanity. It is tempting to try to shortcut this step— to jump to emulating Jesus in showing compassion to others. This is the error of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8). When we commit Simon’s error we are tempted to treat people as abstractions and our actions and intentions as preeminent. Only when we know that God sees all of us and loves us the same are we able to look at others with his eyes, with his compassion. This is our charge, as Paul exhorts the Ephesian church in his vision of unity for the church, and, ultimately, humanity:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

— Ephesians 4:32

(Submitted by Peter York)

Grandma’s Kitchen

Growing up in Kenya we would spend Easter and Christmas holidays traveling to the countryside to visit with extended family. My grandparents had farms and it was bittersweet being in the countryside. Bitter for the lack of electricity and indoor plumbing but sweet for the open fields and unlimited opportunities of play and adventure that surrounded us. Our days were filled with play and enough mischief to warm a city child’s heart.

My grandmother stood at five feet tall and her hugs would melt all the heartache away. She made simple but tasteful meals. Her kitchen was nothing to write home about (ironic considering the title of this piece). It was a one room mud hut about 9 feet by 9 feet with a wooden door and a small window on the mud wall opposite the door. One corner had a stack of firewood piled up and on the ground nearby were three stones forming a triangle. That is where the magic Happened.

Most rural homes in Kenya at that time did not have electricity or piped gas connected to the house and you would use firewood to cook and keep warm. Grandma's kitchen was the coziest spot of the house to be in and sometimes you might even have a young calf in there with you warming itself. The three stones were not fancy but big rocks all of the same height. The three stones were the support needed for the cooking pots. You would place the firewood between the rocks and when the fire was going you had the heat to cook food and thus nourish your Family.

We would find ourselves back into that small space after dinner, seated and warming ourselves by the fire. If it was during the harvesting season, we would get some maize (corn) and roast it over the fire telling stories and jokes. Later in life I learned that not everyone who I thought was my cousin or uncle actually was related to me but they felt so welcome at my grandma’s that they would spend a lot of time there.

Like I said before, my grandma’s kitchen was nothing to write home about and even her food was not that special but one thing she did was to create an atmosphere that welcomed and made one feel like part of the family even if they were not related to her. I share this story to inspire us of how simple things can have a big impact. Our hope is that like my grandma's kitchen that the youth will form a community that is warm and welcoming not only to outsidersbut to each other as well.

As youth workers, our hearts are filled with joy and expectation as we look forward to this new semester. Stemming from what God will do through us and in the lives of the youth as we go through this year. Over the last year I have had a lot of discussions and received feedback from those discussions on desires and expectations of the youth ministry. Synthesizing that with the volunteers and the staff team has led us to the following three qualities like the three rocks that hold the pot over the fire when cooking in my grandma's kitchen these three should undergird our youth ministry: 1) a warm welcoming community, 2) steeped in God’s word, 3) that lives out Christ’s love.

Let us hold on to these words this year -

Belong- a warm welcoming community.

Believe-God’s truth to live by.

Become- radiating Christ’s love to the world.

We look forward to the journey ahead.

Sincerely,

Pastor Shtem & Youth Volunteers

Peace

Summer is here! Or almost? May has been a wonderful month where the youth honored all CBC mothers by preparing the Sunday brunch and we hope all enjoyed to their fill.  

We have gone through a study on peace and the many things that can steal our peace. Some can be external factors and others internal ones. From social media to mainstream news and many other platforms that constantly heighten our emotions and expose us to a lot of information that leaves us in turmoil, comparing our lives to other people and feeling the grass is not only greener on the other side but life is happier too.  

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ”

— John 14:25-27

We might not be able to control external factors that seek to take our peace, there are internal dispositions we can have that are needed in such times. Jesus did promise us peace not as the world gives based on external factors that are changing constantly but peace that comes as a result of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

How he works in us to change our perspective on life and worth. Our response to his leading and guiding is important for us to receiving this peace. Sometimes the path to peace is to make better decisions and other times is asking for help. Ultimate peace is found not in things but in relationship with Jesus.

A few questions to help us evaluate the situation we are in and to clear the path.

1. What currently is stealing your peace?

2. Is it external or internal?

3. What do you need to change to have peace?

4. Have you prayed about it?

5. What does God’s word say about it?

Welcome Pastor Shtem!

In March 2018 CBC welcomed a new associate pastor, Steven Shitemi, or as he prefers to be called, Pastor Shtem. Here's a little more information about our new staff member!

The Shitemi Family

Pastor Shtem, his wife Elizabeth, and their daughter Niara

How did you come by the name Shtem?

I wanted my own identity apart from my father's name and the rest of my eight siblings, so I know if someone says Shtem they are talking about me and not the rest of the clan. 

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. I was born and bred in the city. I like the city a lot, unlike my wife who doesn't care for city living.

How many siblings do you have?

Four brothers and four sisters, and they are all older than me.

How did you come to be a pastor?

From when I was young I knew I would end up in ministry but I didn't know when and how. My dad was both an engineer and a pastor so I grew up thinking I would be the same way. A tentmaker and a pastor. I felt God was asking me to go into full time ministry in 2008 or 2009 when I had an opportunity to join an airline and do flight training with them, but the December before that happened I felt God was asking me to lay that dream on the altar. I knew I wasn't going to get it back, and it was hard for me to let it go. The following year I decided to join Bible school and that's when the journey started!

How did you meet Elizabeth?

I was running, preparing for the Liberian marathon, when I had a vision of Elizabeth being my wife. At that time we were friends, but not that kind of friend. I couldn't make sense of it. So I decided to go for her friend and that didn't work out. I was heading for another country for awhile, but I had promised her I would call her on her birthday four months away. And I did, and she was surprised. We continued talking, even though often we missed each other because of bad internet connections. One day while she was in rural Liberia she asked God for clarity about the friendship, by saying that if when she went online that day and I was online, it would be a sign. I was online, and from that day forward the internet worked for us. Elizabeth was evacuated from Liberia due to Ebola, came to Kenya, and a few months later we got engaged.

What are you looking forward to about working with CBC?

I'm looking forward to developing relationships with the youth and their parents. I'm glad that I already have a wonderful base of volunteers and look forward to growing that and allowing them to dream with me about ministry in CBC with the youth and beyond.