Lately I find myself contemplating compassion. My thoughts were initially drawn to this topic following a conversation I had with a truly dear person. During our discussion, I shared an extremely hurtful circumstance in my life. My friend responded with genuine sincerity and honestly it seemed as though she could feel my pain. The authentic tenderness and care I experienced during our talk was a healing balm to my heart and following our time together I felt encouraged.
As I reflected upon this experience, I realized that the grace I received that afternoon was in effect empathy, a stronger emotion than sympathy, moving past an acknowledgement to an innate sense of feeling another’s emotions. However, there also exists an even greater level of care that surpasses heartfelt expressions and engaged listening, and this is the ministry of compassion.
1 To have compassion means to empathize with someone who is suffering and to feel compelled to reduce the suffering. It’s a fuller, truer definition than feelings alone, and it’s a very biblical understanding.
Moreover, compassion is a Christ-like character, and one that followers of Jesus are called to emulate and demonstrate.
Throughout scripture God is described as compassionate. This is but one of the many beautiful words used in portraying His character. Most meaningful to me, however, is the depiction of Yahweh as a compassionate Father.
The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
And God Himself proclaimed to Moses,
I, the Lord, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness.
Exodus 34:6 (GNT)
Although God declared Himself to be compassionate, it was through the Son that the compassionate heart of The Father was made visible and tangible. In the gospels there are eight specific accounts stating that Jesus had compassion. As I read through these various portrayals, I found it significant that in five occurrences Jesus responded with compassion based on what He saw, and in His parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father first sees, then feels, and finally runs.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them…
Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion…
Matthew 14:14 (ESV)
When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them…
Mark 6:34 (ESV)
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her…
Luke 7:13 (ESV)
...his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20 (ESV)
I think it’s critical to understand that the scriptures that reference Jesus as seeing can also be interpreted as perceiving or knowing. God is omniscient. This means when Jesus sees He literally knows and understands. And the incredibly beautiful truth is He desires to see and know. This being in complete contrast to the religious leaders of His day, as they were spiritually blinded to the needs of the people. Jesus, the God Man, on the other hand demonstrated a compassionate sight that moved Him to action.
Story Time with Jesus
One day an expert in Mosaic Law approached Jesus with a question in a futile attempt to trick Him. His insincere questions, however, revealed the motive of his heart.
“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” After a back-and forth conversation with Jesus, this man ended with this question: “Who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10: 25b, 29 (ESV)
This man was obviously aware of what was written in the law, but his religious pride prevented him from understanding the greater purpose and intent of God’s law, so Jesus wisely answered his questions with a story.
By way of a parable, Jesus shared a narrative regarding a man who was robbed and beaten as he journeyed from Jericho to Jerusalem. As the critically injured man lay near death on the roadside, both a priest and a Levite passed him by, disregarding his urgent need. However, a Samaritan, also on a journey through town, saw the severely wounded man, and had compassion on the man. Based on what he saw, the Samaritan man was moved to compassionate action, demonstrated by physical, financial, and practical care for the hurting man. Jesus then ended His story with a question of His own for the legal expert.
“Which of these three [the priest, Levite, or Samaritan], do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Luke 10:36-37 (ESV)
I absolutely love this. Not only did Jesus pass the test, as if he needed to, but additionally His final question to the lawyer, ultimately and ironically turned the tables on this twisted inquiry, leaving the lawyer with no other option but to answer with truth.
In closing, through my personal probing, and scripture research I have been challenged to reflect upon my own heart and motives. I recognize the truth that compassion requires responding with positive action.
And further, compassion is not based on what I know, see, or even say, but far more critically by what I do.
Father God, I thank You for Your great love, endless mercy and undeserved grace. Empower me, I pray, to truly see, and to then respond compassionately to the needs of others.
In Jesus’ beautiful Name I pray,
Amen
My friend, if you’ve been encouraged, strengthened or edified by this week’s post, please consider sharing Grace Notes For You (www.gracenotesforyou.com) with a friend.
For Reflection
- Based on the example of Christ, how would you define compassion?
- In what meaningful and tangible ways have you experienced the compassion of God in your life?
- In what specific ways may God be calling you to demonstrate His compassion to others? How will you respond?
- Close your time with a prayer of gratitude to God for his mercy, grace, and compassion towards you.
Thank you again for your words if wisdom you shared. ❤️❤️
Thank you so much Tracey!!!! You are a blessing to me!