1. GOD’S COMPASSION S-P-L-A-N-C-H-N-O-N

2. INTRODUCTION Luke 1:76-78, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…” Luke 1:76-78, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…”

3. SPLANCHNON DEFINED W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words says the Greek word splanchnon is a compound word often translated affection, compassionate, & tender mercy. W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words says the Greek word splanchnon is a compound word often translated affection, compassionate, & tender mercy. And we will see the word pity in our lesson today as well And we will see the word pity in our lesson today as well

4. SPLANCHNON DEFINED The KJV sometimes translates splanchnon “ bowels ” of mercy. It is a word, the root of it from which we ultimately get our word spleen. The KJV sometimes translates splanchnon “ bowels ” of mercy. It is a word, the root of it from which we ultimately get our word spleen. Acts 1:18, “Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.” Acts 1:18, “Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.”

5. SPLANCHNON RESULTS Luke 1:77, “… to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.” Luke 1:77, “… to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.” Heb 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Heb 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

6. EXAMPLES OF JESUS JESUS RAISED THE WIDOW’S SON JESUS RAISED THE WIDOW’S SON HEALS & FEEDS 5000 HEALS & FEEDS 5000 GAVE SIGHT UNTO 2 BLIND MEN GAVE SIGHT UNTO 2 BLIND MEN JESUS CLEANSED A LEPER JESUS CLEANSED A LEPER JESUS COMMENDS THE GOOD SAMARITAN JESUS COMMENDS THE GOOD SAMARITAN

7. THE WIDOW’S SON Luke 7:11-15, Jesus “… went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. Luke 7:11-15, Jesus “… went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

8. THE WIDOW’S SON Verse 13, “and when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.” Verse 13, “and when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.”

9. HEALS MANY & FEEDS 5000 Matt 14:13-14, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. V.14, when he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matt 14:13-14, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. V.14, when he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

10. HEALS MANY & FEEDS 5000 Matt 14:15-21, the disciples said it was getting late – send them away. Matt 14:15-21, the disciples said it was getting late – send them away. Jesus said they need not go away. Jesus said they need not go away. He took 5 loaves & 2 fish and feed 5000 men besides women & children. He took 5 loaves & 2 fish and feed 5000 men besides women & children. There was 12 baskets full left over. There was 12 baskets full left over.

11. GAVE SIGHT TO 2 BLIND MEN Matt 20:29-34, “And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside… they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them,… but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!“ Matt 20:29-34, “And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside… they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them,… but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!“

12. GAVE SIGHT TO 2 BLIND MEN V 32, “And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." V 34, And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.” V 32, “And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." V 34, And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.”

13. JESUS CLEANSED A LEPER Mark 1:40-42, “And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Mark 1:40-42, “And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him "If you will, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.”

14. THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10:30-36, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest...passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite… Luke 10:30-36, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest...passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite…

15. THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10:33, "but a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion …” Luke 10:33, "but a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion …” His splanchnon caused him to do all that he could for him. His splanchnon caused him to do all that he could for him.

16. MUCH MORE TO BE TOLD John 21:25, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

17. PAUL ENCOURAGES SPLANCHNON Phil 1:8, “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:8, “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” Paul is so united with Christ that he feels with the heart of Christ, he loves with the love of Christ. (from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) Paul is so united with Christ that he feels with the heart of Christ, he loves with the love of Christ. (from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

18. CHRISTIANS ARE TO DISPLAY SPLANCHNON Col 3:12-13, TLB, “Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others… Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Col 3:12-13, TLB, “Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others… Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

19. CHRISTIANS ARE TO DISPLAY SPLANCHNON Splanchnon is not something you just feel. It moves you to do something about the need of the one who is in distress and afflicted. Splanchnon is not something you just feel. It moves you to do something about the need of the one who is in distress and afflicted. The Good Samaritan didn’t just walk on by and say “I feel so sorry of you.” He acted upon his feelings for the wounded man. The Good Samaritan didn’t just walk on by and say “I feel so sorry of you.” He acted upon his feelings for the wounded man.

20. CHRISTIANS ARE TO DISPLAY SPLANCHNON Luke 10:36-37, “Which of these three, 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, “Which of these three, 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."

21. DOES JESUS CARE? WHY SHOULD HE CARE? ITS SPLANCHNON