Compassion

Definition: Care for others; sorrow at the sight of others in need; motivated by care to act for another’s benefit; focusing on the needs of others despite personal sorrow and suffering.

Passion:
Luke 22:54-61; Luke 23:27-31; Luke 23:39-43
Jesus was suffering the unbearable suffering of shame and pain. But in the midst of his suffering, he did not focus on himself and his agony, but on the needs of others. When Peter had denied him three times, he knew this, and looked at Peter, even though he was being confronted and accused at the time. When he was so weak he couldn’t carry his cross, he did not pay attention to his own suffering, but on the suffering that the women who were weeping would later suffer. He told them not to weep for him but for themselves. And on the cross, he did not pay attention to his own shame, but also to the spiritual struggle and repentance that the man next to him was having. On the cross, Jesus displayed his compassion more than at any other time, for he still did what was loving during his greatest sorrow.

Ministry:
Mark 1:41; Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2
Jesus’ ministry was characterized by the compassion he had on those who were needy. He saw lepers, the blind and the impoverished and he had compassion on them and healed them. He saw people who were hungry and he fed them. He saw people who were lost without clear direction and he taught them the truth of God. He looked at the needs of people and met those needs because of the sorrow in his heart. The Spirit moved him to meet the lacks of the people around him with God’s plenty.

Jesus’ teaching:
Mark 12:28-31
Jesus desires that we fulfill the law. Not all of every single command of the law, but he desires that we love God and love those around us. If we do not love people, then we have not fulfilled God’s righteousness, no matter what else we do. Obedience to God demands that we love.

Matthew 12:7
The Pharisees were judging the disciples for not keeping the Sabbath according to their strict guidelines. Jesus never taught against the Sabbath, but he did clearly teach that all the laws was for the good of others. If we judge others because of a ritual or custom they did not follow but did not have compassion, then we will be condemned. Allow mercy to rule, not judgement.

Other New Testament Teaching:
Philippians 2:1-5
The basic rule of the church, according to Paul, is love. Love and compassion should guide all of our dealings with one another. Paul goes so far to say that we should honor one another as better than ourselves. We should not only love others, but we should meet their needs before we meet our own.

I John 3:10-18
John also affirms that the basic rule of the church is love. If we do not love each other—not just in words, but in actions that meet each other’s needs—then we are not of God. But, in fact, if we do not care for other’s needs then we prove ourselves to be a child of the devil.

Acts of compassion

Feeding the hungry
Clothing those with inadequate clothing
Visiting and praying for the sick
Casting out demons
Preaching a good message to those in misery
Providing warmth to the cold
Providing shelter to the homeless
Visiting and caring for those in jail
Teaching the way of God to those looking for God
Giving a cup of cold water to the thirsty
Forgiving those who owe you
If a brother or sister has wronged you, gently and privately telling them so.
Redeeming slaves.
Being friendly to the friendless
Accepting the outcast
Providing showers to the dirty.
Providing a bathroom to those who lack it.
Lending and giving money to those who need it (and who won’t use it on their sin)
Discipling people in the way of the Lord

Love is not simply action, it is compassion. A person can do tremendous acts of service and sacrifice, but still not care for those they are sacrificing for. Fundamentally, they are sacrificing themselves for themselves, not for others. We need to remember that the actions that we do need to be done from love—not self interest. Self interest does not fulfill our obedience to God. Love alone is the fulfillment of the law.