The Compassion of Christ “...having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13:1, NKJV)

Compassionate COMPASSIONATE: "showing feelings of sympathy for the suffering of others, often with a desire to help" (Encarta Dictionary) COMPASSIONATE: "showing feelings of sympathy for the suffering of others, often with a desire to help" (Encarta Dictionary)

Examples of Christ’s Compassion 1. “ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36) “compassion” moves – action forming the danger of sheep with no shepherd where were the shepherds? Zechariah 11:17 (all verses are the New King James Version unless otherwise noted)

Scribes and Pharisees Failed as Shepherds  They were religious in pressing their own man- made traditions and nullifying the commandment of God (Mk. 7:1-13)  They often busied themselves to make a showing of themselves (Matt. 6:2, 5; 23:5; 28)  They often made a convert better suited for hell than for God (Matt. 23:15)  They often murdered true prophets (Matt. 23:29-31)

Examples of Christ’s Compassion 2. “ So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him” (Matt. 20:34)

What We Can See Thru the Blind (Matt. 20:29-34) out of Jericho (20:29) out of Jericho (20:29) Joshua conquered it (Josh. 6) Joshua conquered it (Josh. 6) rebuilt out of a curse (Josh. 6:26; 1 Kin. 16:34) rebuilt out of a curse (Josh. 6:26; 1 Kin. 16:34) waters healed by Elisha (2 Kin. 2:19ff) waters healed by Elisha (2 Kin. 2:19ff) passed thru by Jesus passed thru by Jesus two blind men sat and cried out (20:30) two blind men sat and cried out (20:30) believed in Christ believed in Christ cried for mercy cried for mercy couldn’t see but believed (cf. 1 Pet. 1:8, 9) couldn’t see but believed (cf. 1 Pet. 1:8, 9)

What We Can See Thru the Blind (Matt. 20:29-34) rebuked by the multitude but cried out all the more (20:31) rebuked by the multitude but cried out all the more (20:31) arrested the Lord’s attention (20:32) arrested the Lord’s attention (20:32) requested sight (20:33) requested sight (20:33) by compassion, Jesus touched their eyes by compassion, Jesus touched their eyes continued to follow Christ continued to follow Christ

Lessons From These Two Blind Men the Lord can open our eyes by faith in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) the Lord can open our eyes by faith in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) we must not be deterred by the multitude we must not be deterred by the multitude the Lord passes by us to hear our prayer the Lord passes by us to hear our prayer we must be as earnest to entreat Him as these blind men (cf. Jas. 5:16) we must be as earnest to entreat Him as these blind men (cf. Jas. 5:16)

Examples of Christ’s Compassion 3. “ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’” (Mk. 1:41) “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (v. 40); NOT “If you are there” as the faithless prays today! nature of miracle was “immediately” not “progressively” (v. 42) Christ’s compassion is no reason to disobey even the simplest of commands (vv ) disobedience, no matter how well meaning, always hinders the work of the Lord

Examples of Christ’s Compassion 4. “ When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep’” (Lk. 7:13) at Nain, the compassion of Christ spared an only son at Calvary the compassion of Christ spared not an Only Son at Nain, the compassion of Christ brought back one son to one mother at Calvary the compassion of Christ brings back many sons & daughters to One Father the “compassion of Christ” led to the “Passion of Christ” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:14)

Why Was Jesus Moved With Compassion? poor woman/widow robbed of an only son by death poor woman/widow robbed of an only son by death emotion is a mark of divinity...God hates and loves (love: Jn. 3:16; 15:9; 2 Cor. 9:7; Eph. 5:2 hate: Prov. 6:16-19; 8:13; Amos 5:21; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6; Rev. 15:1). emotion is a mark of divinity...God hates and loves (love: Jn. 3:16; 15:9; 2 Cor. 9:7; Eph. 5:2 hate: Prov. 6:16-19; 8:13; Amos 5:21; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6; Rev. 15:1). we bear these emotions because we are made in the image of the divine creator we bear these emotions because we are made in the image of the divine creator BEWARE: sin perverts us and we begin to love that which we should hate and hate that which we should love! BEWARE: sin perverts us and we begin to love that which we should hate and hate that which we should love!

Reflections “Do Not Weep” (v. 13) “Do Not Weep” (v. 13) how could she not weep? how could she not weep? only the Lord has the power to turn tears into joy (cf. Rev. 21:4) only the Lord has the power to turn tears into joy (cf. Rev. 21:4) “Arise” (v. 14) “Arise” (v. 14) Lord of life (cf. Jn. 11:25) Lord of life (cf. Jn. 11:25) "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54) "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54)

To the Spiritual Dead? And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." many are dead in sin and are unconscious of their coffin: self-indulgent, proud, worldly, immoral, self-seeking, laziness, etc. many are dead in sin and are unconscious of their coffin: self-indulgent, proud, worldly, immoral, self-seeking, laziness, etc. Why not arise and get baptized and wash your sins away (Acts 22:16)? Why not arise and get baptized and wash your sins away (Acts 22:16)? it must be your desire it must be your desire

The Human Race is in A Coffin “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27) “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27) Yet, Jesus will one day call us from it Yet, Jesus will one day call us from it “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth––those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn. 5:28, 29) “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth––those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn. 5:28, 29)

Examples of Christ’s Compassion 5. “ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matt. 23:37) touching picture “how often” is spoken of Jesus’ compassion upon Jerusalem through the ages statement re: divinity of Christ “BUT” shows Jerusalem’s distaste for righteousness

1) Compassion Doesn’t Overlook Transgression Jesus recalled Jerusalem’s transgressions Jesus recalled Jerusalem’s transgressions kills the prophets kills the prophets stones those He had sent to them stones those He had sent to them

2) Compassion Doesn’t Void Judgment to the Unrepentant “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matt. 23:38) “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matt. 23:38) “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas. 2:13) “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas. 2:13) “...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11) “...I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11)

3) Compassion Doesn’t Forbid One From Withdrawing Himself “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matt. 23:39; cf. Zech. 7:12, 13) “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matt. 23:39; cf. Zech. 7:12, 13) “till you say”... they must repent and love the Lord for the Lord to be rejoined to them “till you say”... they must repent and love the Lord for the Lord to be rejoined to them such would happen when they are given opportunity to hear the gospel and turn (viz. Acts 2 and following) such would happen when they are given opportunity to hear the gospel and turn (viz. Acts 2 and following) there is no premillennial contemplation here expressed there is no premillennial contemplation here expressed

Final Thoughts on Compassion any study of compassion should not be lopsided (i.e., like many denominations do with “love”) any study of compassion should not be lopsided (i.e., like many denominations do with “love”) to appreciate the “love” of God we must fear the “wrath” of God to appreciate the “love” of God we must fear the “wrath” of God to appreciate the “mercy” of God we must appreciate what it meant for Him to be merciful to us to appreciate the “mercy” of God we must appreciate what it meant for Him to be merciful to us He cleared us of something evil when we obeyed He cleared us of something evil when we obeyed Romans 11:22 Romans 11:22

Final Thoughts on Compassion While While remaining in truth, God is great in compassion and terrifying to the guilty "And "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation'" (Exod. 34:6, 7).

God’s Gracious Plan For Your Pardon He He wants you to hear the Son “. “... This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mk. 9:7) He He wants you to believe in the Son “. “... if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24) He He wants you to confess the Son “. “... And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God’” (Acts 8:37) He He wants you to repent for the Son “. “... Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:38) He He wants you to be baptized into the Son “Or “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3)