On Sunday, we talked about being clothed with the compassion of Christ. Colossians 3:12-12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion . . .From Matthew 20:29-34 we learned several things about Jesus’ compassion.
- Compassion means-PASSION for people.
Do you notice that the word “passion” is tucked inside the word “compassion?” Pretty cool, right? And it makes for a nice sermon point! If we aren’t passionate about people we will never become people of compassion. It is our passion for others, our desire to help others experience salvation and the difference Christ makes, it is our recognition that every life matters, every life is valuable, every life counts, that moves us to want to be a difference-maker. - Compassion makes us stop.
Matthew 20:32 tells us that when Jesus heard the blind men calling out, He stopped.Perhaps that isn’t so shocking to read and absorb, but when I think about the fact that Jesus stopped here in Matthew chapter 20, knowing what the first part of chapter 21 says, it is incredible to me that Jesus stopped. For Jesus was on his way out of Jericho in Matthew 20:29, and He was headed into the highest moment of His earthly life. He was headed to Jerusalem where He would be hailed as the King during the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday. And on His way, to the biggest moment of His life, He stopped. He took time. He showed compassion.
- Compassion moves us to ask questions.
Jesus stopped and asked the blind men the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus obviously knew what they needed, and yet He asked them the question. Perhaps He was modeling some effective ministry for us. We may look at a situation and think we know what would be helpful, but it might not be what the person really needs the most. When you know that someone is dealing with a difficult life circumstance, asking how you can pray for them specifically is a great question to ask. Asking them if you could take something off of their plate for a month, what that might be, would be a great question. Some people are tougher to show compassion to than others because they don’t want to be a bother or burden. They might say, “Just pray.” So, you might say, “If it is alright, I would like to mow your grass this week so you don’t have to worry about that.” Ask God to give you a creative mind to know how to be a blessing to others. - Compassion models what the world needs to see.
Those who were in the crowd that day with Jesus that day weren’t compassionate. Verse 31 tells us they rebuked the blind men and told them to be quiet. Jesus modeled a different way, a counter-culture way, when He stopped to talk to them. We are called to model the Jesus’ way of responding to people in need. - Compassion is ministry that results in miracles.
The blind men received their sight. You and I have no power in and of ourselves to perform miracles, however, if we have the Spirit of God living inside of us, as we touch people in Jesus’ name whether physically or through acts of kindness or through the ministry of prayer, we can believe God to be at work in miraculous ways in their lives.Compassion. It begins with a passion for people. It makes us stop and ask questions. It shows the world what God is like and how He wants us to treat each other. It might be a quiet expression, a few minutes of our time, a listening ear or a helping hand, but it has the power to work wonders, miracles, in life after life after life. Let’s put on compassion, the compassion of Christ.
