The Compassion of Jesus

Mark 1: 40-42 6:30-34

Last Sunday we thought about one particular character trait of Jesus, namely his humility. This morning I’d like to think with you about his compassion.

In the gospels we read how on several occasions Jesus had compassion on someone or towards others. One such occasion was when a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Mark 1:40

We read “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and said unto him ‘I will; be clean’.

At present, under the covid19 circumstances, some people have been required to quarantine for 14 days. Others have self-isolated for a longer time because they may see themselves as more vulnerable. In Jesus’ day lepers were quarantined outside of a town, and so lepers would have felt very lonely and out of the normal social and religious life of the community. We hadn’t been able to meet as a church for a number of months, and we felt it. Imagine how a leper must have felt being excluded from meeting with God’s people for so long!

A leper was seen as an ‘untouchable’ because he had a dreaded skin disease. He wouldn’t have been hugged by others or been able to hug them! He wouldn’t have been invited home for Sunday lunch!

Jesus was moved with compassion, and put forth his hand and touched this ‘untouchable’. His compassion was put into action - a simple action, but one that would have meant a lot to an untouchable!

Our compassion for others may be expressed in simple but meaningful ways too, such as a phone call, a text or email, a card, or having a coffee with someone and giving them a listening ear, or it may be a gift of flowers or a meal to someone, or a lift in the car to an appointment etc.

In the fourth century, a christian man, Basil of Caesarea was inspired by Jesus’ compassion to set up the first large-scale Christian hospital of 300 beds that included a house for leprosy sufferers, and a hospice for the aged.

We have all probably heard of Francis of Assisi, but we may not have heard how when he was out riding one day he was confronted by a beggar with leprosy.

Francis’ initial reaction was one of fear and self preservation and he started to gallop away. But it came to him that in turning away from this poor man he was in effect turning away from God too. He turned his horse around and went back and kissed the leper’s hand! Later he established a hospital with a company of brothers to care for such lepers.

And I guess we have all heard of ‘the leprosy mission’. Wellesly Bailey was motivated by Christ’s compassion to found ‘The Mission to Lepers in India’ later to be known as ‘The Leprosy Mission.’ Wellesly was a teacher in a missionary school in India in the late 19th century, and one day he visited a leper asylum and it moved him deeply.

On another occasion we read how Jesus got out of a boat and saw a great throng, ‘and he had compassion on them’ Mark 6:34.

Jesus had taken his apostles to a lonely place so they could rest a while. (Mark 6:30,31). “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.”

But we read that many saw them going and ran there from all the towns and got there ahead of them!

What was Jesus’ reaction? It wasn’t ‘Oh, no! There goes our peace and quiet!', rather, “he had compassion” on this great throng of people. Why? “because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34.

In those days sheep without a shepherd would lack food, water and rest. When we read psalm 23 we learn something of what a good shepherd did for his flock. And here Jesus saw this great throng as shepherdless, they had no one to lead them and feed them and tend them in God. We read “and he began to teach them many things”. 6:34. Jesus fed them spiritually.

After Jesus was raised from the dead he had a conversation with his apostle Peter and told him “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.”

Years later, this Peter wrote a letter and in it said to the elders of the church, “Tend the flock of God that is your charge…..” 1Peter 5:2.

Brothers and sisters, I thank God for our elders here, Jeremy and Peter, and how they encourage and care for me. Let’s keep them in our prayers, and encourage them too where we can.

Peter in his letter goes on to say that there is a “Chief Shepherd.” He says, “And when the Chief Shepherd is manifested……" Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and elders and pastors are under-shepherds. And so those in some spiritual oversight can look to Jesus for guidance, strength and what they need for their service and ministry to His flock.

There was another occasion when Jesus had compassion, and that was when he went ashore and saw another great crowd. We read, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick." Matthew l4:l4

Yet another time Jesus had compassion on a crowd was when they had been with Jesus three days and had nothing to eat, and he said, “I have compassion on the crowd….. I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Matthew l6:32.

There wasn’t a nearby Coles or Woolworths! Jesus asked his disciples, “How many loaves have you?" They said, “Seven, and a few small fish." And they brought it and Jesus gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied.

Jesus can still use the little we can bring to him and enlarge it and use it for his purposes.

This compassion of Jesus for the hungry has no doubt motivated some Christians to be involved in ministry to the needy. A local example is the Pantry Club supported by churches in Strathalbyn.

Another time Jesus had compassion towards someone was when he met a funeral procession going out of the city of Nain.

Jesus was with his disciples and a great crowd went with him. Luke 7:11

In those days they often couldn’t afford wooden coffins. They had a long open basket on poles with the body lying in it, and they tipped the body into the grave.

We read that the dead man was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And that meant she was now without the support of a man. They didn’t have Centrelink in those days!

We read “And when the Lord saw her he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. Now in their tradition then if a rabbi touched a coffin he would be defiled and unable to say prayers that day.

Then Jesus spoke to this dead man. ‘Young man, I say to you, ‘arise’. ' And the dead man sat up and began to speak."! Luke 7:15. “And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited his people!’ “

In that region of Nain there was a village called Shunem, where the prophet Elisha had laid his body on the body of a young boy and raised him back to life 900 years earlier than this scene in the Gospel.

And now here was a man doing what Elisha had done, only he just needed to speak to the corpse!

Yes Jesus was a great prophet - but more, than a prophet . Jesus is the Lord of life and death; he has the keys of death an Hades in his hands. And Paul says, “We do not grieve as others do who have no hope.” One day God will wipe away all our tears. We have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Once Jesus encountered a man with an unclean spirit who had his dwelling among the tombs and no one could bind him.

And when Jesus had set him free we read Jesus told him “Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you." Mark 5:19

This man did what Jesus told him, and the next time Jesus came to that region there were 4,000 people who wanted to hear him.

If we have experienced the compassion of the Lord in some way and are able to share it, who knows where it may lead!

Two blind men once cried out to Jesus as he was nearing them - “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out the more, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” Matthew 20.30

These two wouldn’t be deterred by others, they persisted in faith despite opposition and discouragement.

There can be people today who try to stop or hinder or discourage a person from having faith in Jesus. This is a test of faith. If that ever happens to us, may we not give up, or give in!

These two blind men called Jesus “Son of David”. They were blind and yet could ‘see’ who Jesus was - the Messiah.

They realised Jesus was present and they seized the moment. They may never have had that opportunity again.

There are still opportunities that come people’s way that are to be seized. The words of Isaiah are still applicable - “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa 55:7

Jesus stopped and called them, “What do you want me to do for you?"

If Jesus were to ask you that question, what might you reply?

They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened."

“And Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." Mtt 20:33,34

I notice that having experienced his compassion these men followed Jesus. May we who have experienced his compassion keep on following Jesus!

In the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament we read about Jesus our high priest in heaven today. “We have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses”. Hebrews 4:l5.

In other words, he can sympathise with our weaknesses and infirmities.

To sympathise means to suffer with, to feel for.

Brothers and sisters, this is the Jesus whom we believe in. And so we are told “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:l6

Having noticed examples in the gospels of Jesus having compassion, let’s make a few observations about his compassion.

Jesus’ compassion could be drawn out by a variety of needs. They might be physical, emotional, spiritual or mental.

Jesus showed his compassion in some caring action that helped to meet the need or ease the suffering. And even on the cross when he was suffering terribly he cared for his mother and entrusted her into the care of his disciple John. And as he was being crucified he prayed “Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Now it is not surprising that as followers of Jesus we are encouraged to show compassion.

Paul, in writing to the church at Colosse says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion….." Col 3:12

When Paul wrote to the Christians in the church at Philippi he told them - and I’m reading from the King James - “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. “ Philip 1:8

“Bowels” is an old expression for compassion, deep feelings, affection. Sometimes today we still might use expressions that bring together the physical and emotional sides of our nature, like ‘bosom pal’ or ‘loving someone with all your heart’ or ‘having the guts to do something’

And Peter, in his first letter bids Christians - “Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another” 1Peter 3:8

Now how can we get this compassion?

By realising that the Lord feels this way for you, and by realising the Lord could feel this way through you.

There was a Christian couple who were losing their temper with their children and they prayed for patience, but still kept doing their block. One day they confided in another Christian about this and he said - ‘Ask Jesus to handle your children and be patient with them through you.’

Friends, the Christian life isn’t just the imitation of Christ, it’s the indwelling of Christ.

It isn’t so much that we must try and feel for others like Jesus did, as it is Jesus in our heart and life feeling for others with our hearts.

Series: Mark

Topics: #Mark