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The Compassionate Life - Part 2, Jesus

I REMEMBER HEARING A LONG TIME AGO, “PEOPLE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE.”

ALMOST EVERY ENCOUNTER WITH PEOPLE - WHO WERE NOT RELIGIOUS LEADERS, BUT ORDINARY PEOPLE - JESUS’ RESPONSE WAS TO REACH OUT TO LET THEM KNOW GOD CARED.

IN ONE STORY… Mark 1:40-41 (NASB)
40  And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
41  Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

LEPROSY WAS THE WORST OF ALL DISEASES…BECAUSE IT COULD BE CAUGHT BY THE PEOPLE TRYING TO HELP THOSE WHO WERE ALREADY INFECTED.
LEPERS HAD TO WEAR SIGNS AROUND THEIR NECKS TELLING EVERYONE THEY WERE “UNCLEAN”.  IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT, GENERALLY, PEOPLE STAYED AWAY FROM THEM. 

NOT JESUS.  JESUS “TOUCHED HIM”….  WHY?  HE HAD COMPASSION TOWARDS HIM.  I.E. HE ENTERED INTO WHERE THE MAN WAS AT.

LATER ON, MARK RECORDS ANOTHER EPISODE:  
Mark 6:34 (NIV)
34  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.

THIS THEN LED TO THE FEEDING OF THE 5000…AND THAT IS CRUCIAL…
WHAT WE AS CHRISTIANS PROCLAIM IS THAT JESUS  IS OUR SAVIOR, AND IT’S TRUE,
BUT HE IS OUR SUFFERING SAVIOR…WHO “ENTERS INTO” OUR NEEDS.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)
14  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

WHAT IS GOD LIKE?  THAT’S ALWAYS ENTERING INTO OUR HEADS WHEN PEOPLE GO THROUGH PAINFUL, DIFFICULT THINGS.  
REMBRANDT’S PAINTING OF THE PRODIGAL SON’S RETURN TO HIS FATHER IS FULL OF IMAGERY, BUT UNMISTAKABLE IS THE FATHER'S 
AFFECTIONS FOR HIS CHILD.  THE FATHER IS NOT SCOLDING, NOR IS HE POINTING A FINGER AT HIS CHILD...INSTEAD, HE IS COMPASSIONATE - 
HE “ENTERS INTO”…HE’S NOT ALOOF, DISTANT, AND UNINTERESTED…

Psalm 103:8-14 (ESV)
8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love… 10  He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12  as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT US…THAT IS WHY HE CALLS US HIS CHILDREN.

THE HEART OF COMPASSION IS IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD.  JESUS MODELED THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND HE IS OUR MENTOR EVEN TODAY.

ONE MORE PART TO THIS TEACHING...MORE TOMORROW.

PEACE

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