Compassion (noun): a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
When is the last time you suffered? I’ve known a few seasons of suffering in my life, more than I’d like to admit. It’s never been pleasant, but it’s always been purposeful.
Jesus continues to show us that He understands. He shows us, through the Bible which details His life, that He posses compassion because He experienced pain, disappointment, hurt and loneliness.
When you suffer, it’s easy to feel alone because, and most times you are. Yes, your family loves you, your friends do, too, but they may not be called to suffer like you are. They have their suffering to worry about. The reality is, at any given point the people you love the most may be hanging on by a thread, and they can’t help you hang onto yours. But Jesus…oh, but Jesus is always there because He is well acquainted with suffering. We suffer as we live and we die day by day. Jesus suffered unto death and then lived again. There’s a vast difference between the two.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.- Isaiah 53:3
In Jesus’ ministry, what moved Him to heal so many people was His compassion for them.
When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.- Matthew 14:14
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.- Mark 6:34
What a wonderful gift it is to not only have a Savior who can heal us but to have one who is moved by compassion to do so. Jesus doesn’t feel obligated to heal us. Jesus heals us out of compassion and love.
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15
#tobepraisedholiday