by leaps and bounds

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9: 35-36).

Everywhere Jesus went, He drew crowds. Big crowds – multitudes of people! Scripture declares that people would press Him – literally be right up against Him. Remember, five thousand men were fed in another setting. Notice, these numbers did not include women and children.

Yes, Jesus dealt with multitudes of people. He didn’t stop there; He concerned Himself with individuals as well. Think of a few individuals our Savior touched.

*Bartimaeus the blind beggar

*The infirmed man at the pool of Bethesda

*The man with the withered hand

*The woman at the well

*The woman with the issue of blood

*The twelve disciples

Truth be told, we have no means to know how many individuals were recipients of Jesus’ compassion and power to heal and change lives. John said it well:

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus in the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20; 30-31).

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” He still views the multitudes with compassion. At the same time, He views individuals with the same compassion.

Jesus sees the homeless person shivering from the cold of a long winter night. He sees the prisoner sitting alone in a prison cell. He sees the elderly person in a rest home that no longer has visitors coming to see them.

What about our churches? In a church culture that may at times place too much value on numbers, Jesus sees, sure, He sees the crowd. He also sees each individual in the crowd.

Jesus sees the man in the pew who is struggling with addiction. He sees the wife who comes to church alone but so desires her husband to come with her. He sees the child who is bullied at school, yet has a heart turned toward the Lord. Young, middle aged, elderly – He sees them all.

Aren’t you glad Jesus sees us collectively? Aren’t you comforted to know He sees us individually? Wherever we are there is loving eyes that sees us – the eyes of our Savior.

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Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.

Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children  — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter  — Breanna. 

Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 

Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.