Day 13
Jesus’
Method: compassion
Read: Matthew
9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34
Luke
records many acts of the compassionate Jesus. Matthew and Mark talk directly
about that compassion. They write how
Jesus was moved with compassion. Compassion is more than heart-feeling; it’s deep
passionate concern or empathetic-movement and identification from within the
depths of the stirred. It understands, grasps, and responds to the “deepest
point” of a person or people group’s needs. Compassion can be seen and felt by
the needy; it leads to action on their behalf... Jesus healed the sick,
restored the lepers, fed the crowds and taught the people, because of his
compassion for them.
The
needs of people deeply moved Jesus. Matthew
describes four experiences of Jesus’ compassion at work; (1) “when Jesus saw
the crowds he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd” (9:36), (2) “He saw a large crowd, and having compassion
on them healed their sick” (14:14), (3) “He saw the hungry crowds with
compassion and fed them” (15:32), and (4) “He responded to two blind men, touched
their eyes and immediately they received their sight and followed him” (20:34).
Repeatedly Jesus looked beyond the surface needs of healing or food saw their
spiritual condition, by meeting people at their point of felt-needs. In
compassion, Jesus’ heart was tender, his perception clear.
Jesus
saw the needs of others. He looked
beyond the superficial and saw a person’s inner needs. His compassion moved him to action. Meeting a person’s heart-felt need opened the
door to Jesus meeting their heart’s spiritual desires.
Ponder Point (reflect)
- Jesus’
compassion responds to physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people
Consider (respond)
- How
often do you operate in compassion?
Compassion triangulates response.
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