Our understanding of the word “compassion” is mostly wrong. The Oxford Online Dictionary defines compassion as “a sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”
Synonyms of compassion are: “pity; sympathy; understanding; empathy; concern; solicitude.”
All these words describe feelings, which are a by-product of compassion. But compassion, as it is used in the scriptures, is much more than mere feelings. Let’s see how Jesus operated in compassion.
Mark 1:40-42
” ⁴⁰ Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, “If you’re willing, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ ⁴² As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”
From the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I AM WILLING!” to this leper, every doubt about God’s will to heal should have forever disappeared from the human race.
Jesus’ words were not just for a single leper. They were for every person in every generation that will ever live on this planet.
Remember, He said, heaven and earth would pass away, but His words would never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
Remember also that He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus said, “I am willing.” The Greek the word for willing is “thelo”.
Thayer’s Greek Dictionary defines this word as “to be resolved or determined; to purpose; to take delight or pleasure in.”
This word is used to express a range of desires, from simple wishes to strong intentions. We know with certainty that what Jesus said to the leper that day expressed more than simple wishes. His words were not the sweet sentiments of a “Hallmark get-well card”. His words expressed His strongest intentions and determination to act.
How do we know that? Because the Bible says that Jesus was “moved with compassion” for the leper.
Jesus did more than sympathize with the man. Sympathy means to feel pity. Compassion does more than “feel.”
Jesus did more than empathize with him. Empathy means to understand and share the feelings of another as your own. Compassion does more than “understand and share.”
Compassion means more than just a feeling
Compassion includes the strong desire to help. Then compassion goes way beyond the “desire” all the way to the “doing”. True compassion actually does something to relieve the suffering.
Carefully notice the exact wording of verse 41: The Bible doesn’t just tell us that Jesus “had” compassion for the leper, but that He was “moved” by it. Compassion is an action word!
Notice this, because it is vitally important to understand. Not only did compassion motivate Jesus to speak, but compassion moved Jesus’ hand, extending it, and causing it to rest upon the leper!
This wasn’t just about wanting to do something. Jesus perfectly expressed the “will behind the want”— the “decision behind the desire” when He said. “I am willing” and then healed the man of his leprosy!
We could say that Jesus’ response to the leper was “compassion culminating in the climax of completion!”
When He spoke those words, He opened the heart of the Father to humanity… endless mercy, amazing grace, a passionate willingness to heal… eternal love, practically demonstrated by His ACTS of mercy, grace, and kindness.
There are other passages of scripture that speak of Jesus’ compassion as He ministered to the desperately needy who were drawn to Him.
● Matthew 20:30-34
” ³⁰…two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ ³¹Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ ³² So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ³³ They said to Him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’ ³⁴ So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”
Jesus met the needs of these two men, not with sympathy or encouraging words, but by ACTING on their faith, and restoring their eyesight.
● Feeding the Multitudes – Mark 6:34 and 8:2
Each time Jesus feeds the multitudes, we’re told, Jesus “had compassion on them”.
● Luke 7:11-15
” ¹¹ And it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people.
¹² Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, ‘Weep not.’ ¹⁴ And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say unto thee, arise.’ And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.
The widow’s son was her only child, and her birthright son. So his death left her spiritually socially and financially destitute. Jesus’ compassion revived not only the young man, but the hopes, dreams and future happiness of his mother.
● Matthew 9:35-38
³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the
laborers are few. ³⁸Therefore pray the Lord of theharvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
It looks from theses verses as though Jesus’ compassion was fully expressed as He gave
His disciples instructions to pray for the weary and shepherdless sheep. But was united prayer the end-result of the Lord’s compassion?
Let’s see. First let’s jump right over the space between between Matthew Chapter 9 and Matthew Chapter 10. Now, let’s pole vault over the big-font capitalized bold letters that say CHAPTER 10.
The next word describes one of the quickest answers to prayer in the entire Bible! Do you see the first word in Matthew 10:1? It is the word “and”. The word “and” is a conjunction (See?
I was listening in English class!). Conjunctions are used to connect two words, phrases, clauses, or Bible chapters together. The prayer of Matthew 9 is connected to the action of Matthew 10.
As soon as the disciples said, “Amen” the Lord of the Harvest Himself answered. He said, “Way to pray, guys! We’ve got the laborers we needed! Congratulations! You’ve been chosen!” Then He said, “You go! You preach! You heal the sick! You cleanse the lepers! You raise the dead! You cast out demons! YOU be the weapons of my compassion!” (Matthew 10:7,8)
That, my brothers and sisters, is compassion in action! Jesus’ compassion always leads to action, whether healing, feeding, or calling us to serve!
His compassion is alive within us. His mission is now our mission. His Spirit empowers us to do the same works He did, and even greater works. (John 14:12)
As He is, so are we in this world! (1 John 4:17)
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My wife, Grace, and I are very proud to be in partnership with Student Life Organization, Inc. We believe in the great work they are doing in Cebu City, and throughout the central part of the Philippines.
SLOI provides educational opportunities to
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Your generous giving will help Founders Anne Ruiz, and Ian Rustia, and their team, as they faithfully declare and demonstrate God’s love to these children and their families.
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(Philippians 4:17, TPT)
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