Compassion in the Kingdom

While he was on earth, Jesus encountered some pitiable people.  He saw those who were blind, deaf and mute.  Still others were crippled or had withered hands.  He encountered the pariahs of the day - lepers.  Many were brought to him possessed with demons.  He ministered to families whose loved ones had died.  Jesus, looked upon the pitiable state of the people and he deemed them to be as lost as sheep without a shepherd.  The word translated “compassion” is “splanchnizomai” (the only thing harder than saying it is doing it!) and it is used only in regard to Jesus, the Good Samaritan, and the loving Father in the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Each occasion it is used is an account of loving compassion producing loving action.

The lesson for us is in the response of Jesus to those he pitied – His compassion for them moved him to take action!  He did not merely feel love for them, he did something about it.  He displayed his compassion for the blind by giving them their sight.  Those who were deaf and mute were given the ability to hear and speak.  He healed the physical infirmities that afflicted people.  The compassionate Jesus reached out, touched and cleansed lepers.  Moved to action by his compassion, Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son and Lazarus from the dead.  And for those sheep without a shepherd, the Good Shepherd laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Following the example of Christ, Christians are called upon to be compassionate toward others in the world.  In fact, our measure of compassion for others, displayed in our actions, is a measure of our love for God and obedience to Him!  When Jesus commanded us to “love thy neighbor as thyself”, he did not mean we are to merely feel love toward them.  Jesus commanded us to act on our love and out of compassion to serve those who are in need!  This is what James wrote about regarding a faith without works being a dead faith.  It is not enough to say, “Be warm and be filled”. Neither is it enough to merely say, “Well, I’ll be praying for you”.  Please do not get me wrong, for I believe in prayer.  Compassion produces prayer and action, as seen clearly in the life of Jesus Christ on earth.

When you see a lost sheep, do you guide him to the Good Shepherd? When you see one who is spiritually blind, do you help him see the light? When you see one who is dead in sin, do you tell him about the resurrection unto new life?  Why not? Someone did it for you!

—By Lee R. Jamieson, Minister
From the “Messenger”- Luverne, AL