Compassion is a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering. It’s a humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it.
The word as it’s used in the Bible means ‘to be moved inwardly, to yearn with tender mercy, affection, pity and empathy’.
1. The origins of our Lord’s Compassion:
a. His Essence – He is the God of Grace, Mercy and Compassion (John 1:18; John 14:9).
b. His Experiences – He grew up poor and lonely (John 1:11; Mark 14:50).
2. The objects of His Compassion:
a. The scattered ones (Mat. 9:36).
b. The sinning ones (Mark 5:1-20; Mark 16:7).
c. The sick ones (mentioned all over the four Gospels).
d. The suffering ones (injustice, poverty, loss).
e. The seeking ones.
He could show Compassion because He looked beyond the ‘what’ to the ‘why’.
3. The objectives of His Compassion:
a. He wants to instruct.
b. He wants to be involved.
He does not only want to give counsel, He wants to help.
Jesus taught His disciples about compassion, and we also need to be instructed because caring for others is against our sinful nature.
The Lord wants us not only to know about compassion, but to act with compassion. He tells us to reach out to others in the same way as we want to be reached out to.
May the LORD give us His compassionate heart in this difficult time.