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Jesus Was Compassionate (2/4)

The compassion exhibited by Christ on behalf of those who were hurting physically was far from the only arena in which He demonstrated that marvelous trait. In fact, the compassion showed in the physical arena pales in comparison to the compassion which He demonstrated in the spiritual affairs of man. Consider the compassion of Christ for the spiritually hurting.

"And He said to them [the apostles], 'Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.' For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things." (Mark 6.31-34).

Note carefully the sequence of events in the passage just quoted. The apostles needed rest (and so did Jesus) because of the rigors of teaching the multitudes who clamored for help. Jesus bid them go aside for much needed rest. However, when He saw the multitudes following, He "was moved with compassion for them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd." Because of His compassion and because of their great spiritual need, Jesus put aside His own need for rest and tended to the spiritual needs of the multitudes; He was moved with compassion because of their unmet spiritual needs.

Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus neared Jerusalem and wept over it; He wept because of the destruction that was to come upon her physically, but the underlying reason for that destruction was her apostate spiritual condition (Luke 19.41). Matthew's record covering the same time frame finds Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem's position. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate." (Matthew 23.37-38). He was compassionate due to the needs of those who were spiritually bankrupt.

On a more familiar occasion, He neared the tomb of His dear friend, Lazarus. Everyone there - the apostles, Mary, Martha, the mourning Jewish friends – everyone should have known of His power to raise his friend form the dead, but no one believed! From the nameless Jews present even to Mary and Martha – they blamed Him for the death of His friend. On that occasion, the scripture says, "Jesus wept." (John 11.35). Was He sad because of the physical circumstance? Of course, but circumstances would indicate that His tears were over the faithless condition of the people that surrounded Him. Jesus had compassion for the spiritual lapses in the lives of His friends.

Who is Jesus? How can I be like Him? Well one thing is sure, If I am to be like Christ, I will have a passion for the lost souls of others. My Lord lived that way, but more importantly, He dies that way! His mission was to "seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19.10).

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One