“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.””
The word compassion is derived from the Greek word 'splagchnizomai,' which means to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion. This word emphasizes the deep emotional response that one experiences towards another person's suffering. It is not just a feeling or obligation, but a deep sense of empathy that demands action.
Jesus demonstrated this type of compassion in his ministry. He was moved with compassion for the sick, the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. He didn't just sympathize with their plight, but he took action to heal, feed, and liberate them. His compassion was not just a passive feeling; it was an active force that drove him to serve others selflessly. Jesus saw the people's pain and suffering and couldn't help but act. This deep sense of compassion was what fueled his ministry, and it's what we should emulate as his followers.
In the book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is not just the leader of our faith, but He is also the reason for our faith. He is the One who endured the cross and overcame the power of sin and death, so that we could have new life in Him.
One of the key aspects of Jesus' ministry on earth was His compassion for people. When people asked Him if He was willing to heal them, He always responded with a resounding "I am willing." This willingness was not just a simple desire to help people, but it was born out of a deep love and compassion for those who were suffering.
Jesus' love and compassion for people moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and reached out to those who were marginalized by society. He did not just do these things because it was the right thing to do, but because He genuinely cared about the people He was ministering to.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to love others in the same way that He loved us. Jesus' love was not just a sentimental feeling, but it was a deep and sacrificial love that was willing to lay down His life for others. This kind of love is not just a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is a powerful force that can change lives and transform communities.
When we love others with the same kind of love that Jesus had for us, we create an atmosphere for the power of God to move in our midst. Love is not just a nice sentiment, but it is a powerful force that can overcome hate, division, and fear. When we love one another, we demonstrate to the world that we are followers of Jesus and that we belong to Him.
Jesus' love for people was not just a personal mission, but it was also a strategy to advance the Kingdom of God. He called His disciples to love one another as He loved them, and He prayed for unity among His followers so that the world would know that God had sent Him. Unity is the strategy, and love is the power that drives us forward in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and let us love one another as He loved us. Let us be moved with compassion for those who are hurting and marginalized, and let us demonstrate the power of God through our love for one another. May we be united in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel, and may we be empowered by the love of Christ to make a difference in our communities and in our world.
Clint and Sara Byars
Forward Ministries
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