Inspiration & Worship

Compassion: A Quality of Jesus Christ

Christians know that Jesus Christ lived among people for 33 years and set the example of how to be “imitators of God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) The gospels convey how he did that and what it looks like in practical application. One behavior often on display was compassion.

All four gospel writers tell us that Jesus felt compassion for people and took action to help them. He did this even when he was physically and mentally weary from travel, rejection or temptation. Jesus met the needs of disabled, sick, demon-possessed, grief-stricken, hungry, rejected and oppressed people.

In Matthew 15, we see that he was sensitive to peoples’ physical needs.

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may col-

lapse on the way.’” (Matthew 15:31 NIV)

He fed them.

Jesus was sensitive to peoples’ state of mind, too.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and help-

less, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-38, NIV)

Jesus set the example for loving all kinds of people, regardless of gender, age, race, or station in life. He asked us to imitate his behavior, which means it must possible to do.

Doling out compassion is not something we do because people “deserve it.” In truth, we never deserved the compassion Jesus showed to us, either. We love others because God first loved us.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ,

God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV ❚