Compassion of Jesus

When Nicholas was younger, he was my grocery store buddy. One day, when he was 4-years old we made our usual grocery visit. As we headed up the bread isle, my son exclaimed, “Mommy, what’s wrong with him?!?”  I turned to look just in time to see the back of a man. He was moving quickly and had already passed us. All I could see was the back of a neck brace. I didn’t see exactly what my son saw. Unaware of any details, I explained to Nicholas that the man was hurt. Nicholas inquired about why and how the man was hurt. I explained that I didn’t know, but maybe he had been in an accident. Nicholas was very thoughtful for a quick second. I wondered what he was thinking…I watched as the wheels turned in his head. Then he said, “Momma, we need to pray for him.”  Not missing the opportunity, I asked did he want to go first, and he began praying for that man right there, as he sat in the grocery cart.

Nicholas’ reaction to the hurting man and the Holy Spirit caused me to pause and ask myself two questions. How do I respond when I see someone hurting? And, how should I respond?  Regardless of if the pain was physical or emotional, Jesus demonstrated compassion for those who were hurting.

Being a physician, Luke wrote about many instances when Jesus compassionately healed people.

Leprosy was a contagious skin disease and a leper was an outcast who was considered unclean. The lepers were forced to live as a group and to announce when they were within earshot of others. It wasn’t a call of greeting. It was a call of identity. They would call out, “unclean, unclean!” There was no hiding the skin disease. There was only proclaiming the identity of outcast.

In Luke 5:12-16, a man with leprosy came to Jesus in hope of healing. “When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean’” (Luke 5:12b). Jesus’ response was filled with compassion. Jesus saw the man who was suffering over the disease the man had. “Reaching out His hand, He touched him…” (Luke 5:13a).

Jesus touched the man with leprosy! If a person touched a leper, that person would also be considered unclean. Could you imagine not being touched? No one touched a leper…except Jesus! “Reaching out His hand, He touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be made clean,’ and immediately the disease left him” (Luke 5:13).

In Jesus’ time and culture, a woman with a flow of blood was considered ceremonially unclean (Lev. 15:25). Just like the leper, others would become unclean by touching her. She couldn’t participate in temple worship or gatherings.

In Luke 8:43-48, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years reached for her chance to be healed. Mark describes the heart-breaking state of the woman. She went to multiple doctors who actually caused her more suffering. She spent all of her money in an attempt to be healed but, was actually made worse (Mark 5:26). The suffering woman, desperate in her condition, saw her chance for healing. She must have weaved in and out of the crushing crowd to get close to the Healer. She “approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked” (Luke 8:44-45).

Why didn’t the woman come before Jesus for healing, like so many others? She was considered unclean and she was embarrassed. She didn’t want to be noticed for her illness but, Jesus didn’t let her go unnoticed. The compassion of Jesus brought her into relationship with Him and restored her relationships with others who knew her. “When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured. ‘Daughter,’ He said to her, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in peace’” (Luke 8:47-48).

When she realized that she couldn’t hide, she came trembling. She had no doubt been ostracized and mistreated by her doctors and countless others. Jesus is different. She need not wonder if Jesus knew about the healing. He did and He responded with compassion. He brought her into the light, not to rebuke her, but to restore her. He commended her faith and sent her away in peace. Others called her unclean…Jesus called her faithful.

It was more than challenging to be blind in Jericho during the first century. A person who was blind would have to be taken care of and led around. He wouldn’t be able to make a living and would often be a beggar.

In Luke 18:35-43, a blind man persistently sought healing. Intrigued by the commotion, he asked what was going on. He was told that Jesus was coming. He must have heard of Jesus and of His miracles and he didn’t want to miss his chance. The man couldn’t see Jesus and there was no way for him to get to him before he passed by. He did the only thing he could…he called out. “So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:38-39).

Could you imagine? There he was calling Jesus from a distance…his voice must’ve rang in the ears of those in front of him. They were indignant and tried to quiet him. The man was persistent and shouted even more. “Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him, ‘What do you ant Me to do for you?’ ‘Lord,” he said, ‘I want to see!’” (Luke 18:40-41). Jesus stopped where He was to show this man compassion. Finally, the man who couldn’t see wasn’t ignored. Finally, he was seen. He was noticed!  And Jesus gave him his sight! Once the man could see, he began following Jesus and glorifying God.   

 Whether people were hungry or lost a loved one, Jesus saw their struggles and He was tender toward them. Compassion freely flowed from His heart to those who were hurting. Jesus really saw their pain…pain that was uncomfortable to see. But He didn’t ignore it.  Instead, He met the need to restore them physically, spiritually, and emotionally. And, his compassion isn’t limited to them. He’s just as tender and compassionate toward you. Give Him your hurts and allow Him to restore you.

I want to grow in compassion. I long to be tender toward others. I desire to have compassion that flows from within, like Jesus. Yet, I have a long way to go. So, I’m regularly stopping to ask myself: How do I respond to the needs of others? Do I stop what I’m doing to listen to a need? Do I acknowledge the person or dwell on the illness? Do I touch those who need it?