I was standing before my church community, teaching on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount, and came upon the phrase, “He saw the crowds.”

This small phrase is significant to understanding the Beatitudes and is repeated later in Matthew 9:36, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus didn’t just talk to a crowd.

He saw them, stepped into their story, and spoke directly to them.

Then it hit me!

My eyes were opened.

And I finally saw the crowd.

Suddenly, the mass of humanity became a sea of faces.

Faces I knew the stories of.

Faces I really care about.

Some are exploring Jesus for the first time.

Some are prodigals.

Some have suffered great heartache and pain due to broken relationships.

Some are giving love another shot.

Some have no clue as to how they’re going to pay their bills.

Some will blow their excess on a shopping spree on things they don’t need.

Some are drowning in confusion about their future.

Some know full-well what they’re to do but lack to courage to go for it.

Some have been neglected by those they love.

Some are neglecting those they love.

Some are oblivious to their self-righteousness.

Some can only see their depravity.

Some are theological snobs who think they know it all.

Some have never studied the scriptures at all.

Some are recovering from their addictions.

Some are denying they have one.

Some feel overwhelmed by life.

Some feel their life is empty.

Some desperately need the gospel.

Some desperately need to remember it.

In a moment, God took me from talking to a crowd to seeing them.

From speaking to a general audience to preaching to a particular people.

My heart melted.

My mind understood.

My soul awakened.

To preach like Jesus is to see the crowds.

And my preaching will never be the same.