“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34)

Compassion is defined as “sympathetic consciousness of other’s distressing circumstances affecting an individual.” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11^th Edition) When Jesus saw a crowd, He knew their basic need and their individual need. They needed God. Jesus had experienced this when Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Him at night addressing Jesus as one who had come from God. Jesus saw his need and said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3) Nicodemus was a religious man, but he did not understand his need. He needed a relationship with God through the promised Messiah who was addressing him. Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-16) In His compassion for Nicodemus, Jesus speaks of what Nicodemus knew, then pointed him to God’s promise of the Messiah who was now standing before Him. Jesus saw his real need. Jesus would later tell other Pharisees, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) Jesus saw their need and responded with compassion. It is because of His compassion for mankind and each person that Jesus went to the cross.

Through the pages of the Old Testament, we see God’s compassion as the people continued to rebel against Him and turning from Him. Isaiah would speak to the people, “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” (Isaiah 30:18-19) God’s desire is to be compassionate, He sees the need and is ready to respond. The Psalmist acknowledges that God will respond to our call, because God responded to his. “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: ‘LORD, save me!’ The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” (Psalm 116:1-5) David counted on God’s compassion after his sin. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:-2)

Today, we live in a world that is filled with trials and difficulties. Even as believers, we face many challenges, just as Jesus promised. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, He meets our need of forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Yet, we still face many challenges. It is through His compassion He said to us that He will carry us through the trials of life. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) God meets our need in times of difficulty with His compassion. He now works in our lives, that we may show His compassion to others as they face the trials of life. Paul says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:1-3) Let us walk with the Living Word of God, showing His compassion to each other and to those in need of Him.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block