I was moved by this week’s story of Jesus’ visit to Naim, where he meets up with a crowded funeral procession. It seems that a woman who is a widow, is mourning the death of her only son. She is in great distress. She is crying. Jesus, seeing her need and sorrow tells her not to weep. Then, we read, that Jesus is moved with “compassion”. He touches the bier where the body lies, which stops the procession. Them, he commands the boy to “Arise”. The boy sits up, alive and well. Then, Jesus lovingly brings him to his mother. What a beautiful story. I can feel Jesus’ heart going out to that woman as he comforts her and restores her son to life. In reading the story, the word “Compassion” jumped out at me. I thought about how the Bible often uses the word “compassion” when referring to Jesus’ healings and teachings. It seems to be a key character trait of Jesus. His love and compassion at times moved him to tears, (the raising of his friend, Lazarus). His compassion is always followed by action. According to Dictionary definitions of compassion, I read that compassion is an emotion which causes one to feel another’s pain or sorrow, but unlike sympathy or empathy, with compassion comes the desire to “do” something, (take action), to relieve another’s suffering. In many instances you can read of this unique character trait of Jesus. The following came to my mind:
When Jesus looks upon the multitudes of people coming to be healed by him, Jesus says to his disciples, “they are like sheep without a Shepard.” In another instance, before he feeds the multitudes, he says to his disciples, (I paraphrase), “I have compassion for these people. They have been with me for three days with nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they may faint.”
In Matthew 20:34 Jesus heals two blind men. The verse reads, “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.”
In Mark 1:40 Jesus has compassion on a leper. The leper comes falling in front of Jesus and begs to be healed. He says to Jesus, “If you are willing you can make me clean.” The Bible goes on to say that, Jesus, filled with compassion, reaches out and touches the leper’s hand. He says, “I am willing, be clean!” It was probably a very long time that the leprous man had felt a loving, warm, soft hand touching his diseased flesh.
Also, we see in Jesus’ teachings through his parables, that compassion is a key quality. We see this in the loving compassion of the Good Samaritan. It is compassion that reaches out, tends to the unfortunate man’s wounds, puts him on his donkey, takes him to an inn, leaves the inn-keeper with silver coins to cover expenses and assures the inn-keeper and man he will return to see if there is anything more he can do.
The other story that comes to my mind is the parable of the Prodigal Son. When the wayward son returns home, the father, runs to meet him. He embraces him, kisses him, and showing great compassion, welcomes him home.
It was said during one of our Roundtable discussions that in order to be healed, we must be humble. Without humility, there is no healing. It seems clear, there must be compassion if one is to heal. There must be a great love which is compelled to reach out to whomever is in need. We must follow the example of Jesus, and walk with him. If we are to call ourselves Christians, and make a difference in this world, practice “compassion”.