The Compassion of Christ

By Roy Loney

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     Matthew 9:36 says, "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Jesus saw in that leaderless, wandering multitude a possible harvest of redeemed souls, and his urgent prayer was that the Lord of the harvest might send forth reapers into the ripening grain.

     The word compassion is defined as "suffering with another, hence, having pity or sympathy for another." This was an outstanding characteristic of our Lord. His feeling of sympathy was touched into action by the sight of human suffering in any form. On one occasion he told his disciples, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: I will not send them away fasting lest they faint by the way." He fed the multitude of four thousand by divine power through sympathy and love.

     Again, when meeting a funeral procession, bearing the body of the only son of a widow, it was said, "And the Lord had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not." The dead son was restored alive to the heartbroken mother. In this place it is fitting perhaps that we mention one of the most touching incidents of the life of Jesus. The heartbroken sisters, Mary and Martha, could not restrain the tears of their grief in the presence of their Lord. This so touched the tender heart of the compassionate Lord that "Jesus wept." The tears of compassion could not be restrained in the presence of the sorrow of those whom he loved. Divine power was available immediately to restore the lost one to them alive and well, but even knowing this could be accomplished, his tears fell like

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rain upon the arid earth. I am sure the world has never been the same since God mingled his tears with the sorrowing of the earth. Perhaps the greatest exhibition of his sympathy was when he wept over sinful, apostate Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee. How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!" He knew that many in that city hated him and would never be satisfied till their hatred was quenched in his blood; yet the knowledge of their doom brought forth the choking sobs of compassion and sorrow.

     But how could Jesus be otherwise? No one could qualify as a high priest, unless he could understand and sympathize with the millions for whom he became a sin offering. "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining unto God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way, for that he himself is also compassed with infirmity" (Heb. 5:1, 2). That is why "Jesus took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men." He could not prove to men his understanding of their problems and weaknesses except by becoming a man. In behalf of the children who were flesh and blood "he also himself likewise took part of the same." Tempted in all points like we are, and experiencing every situation we must meet, he can understand and sympathize with us in our weakness without encouraging any form of weakness. The strength he manifested while in the flesh is our encouragement to be strong even as he was. In rebuking sin and all human weakness, it certainly cannot be said he does not understand. Being a man he "knew all men" and being a God, he "needed not that any should testify of man, for he knew what was in man."

     Knowing and loving man, his infinite compassion led to his death. The greatest act of compassion in his life was his submission to the cross. The cross of Calvary! How hard for weak, erring mortals to appreciate the depth of his love which led to the accursed tree. Only divine compassion could prompt the eternal God to send His only begotten Son to pay the price of sinful man's redemption on Calvary. Jesus did not have to die. All the powers of the Roman Empire could never have nailed Jesus to the cross had not love and compassion for ruined man brought him from the courts of glory. By the grace and compassion of God he tasted death for every man. How pitifully small and insignificant is our gratitude. He who wept bitter tears of compassion for us receives only cold-hearted indifference. How seldom do we weep over our own sins! We who have been redeemed by compassion seldom show it for those less fortunate than ourselves. In the day of judgment those who have not fed the hungry, clothed the naked, given drink to the thirsty, nor ministered to the sick, will find they have no claim upon the mercy of God. Christ's compassion can only enrich us when we share it with others for whom he died. "As ye have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." He who sacrificed the riches of heaven for the poverty of earth will not be favorably impressed with a life not lived for others. "Inasmuch as ye have not done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have not done it unto me."

     But the most important thought of all with reference to our duty is in regard to the lost. One whose heart is unmoved with pity for those who have no hope and are without God in the world, is blind to the real meaning of compassion. We often sing, "Weep o'er the erring one; lift up the fallen: Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save," but we do nothing whatever to save the doomed souls of men from the horrors of hell. Here is our great need of restoration. Until we manifest the same zeal as shown by the Jerusalem saints, who went everywhere preaching the word, we will fall far short

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of the divine requirements. To me there is nothing more shocking than the cold, studied indifference of the average church member toward the lost. No one can truly follow Christ unless he goes into the highways and byways of life seeking the unsaved.

     I have had members boast to me of the fine new heating plant they have installed in their church building so they can luxuriate in sensuous comfort, while at the same time they are so cold spiritually I fear Satan himself would freeze therein. It is high time that we learn that salvation is not to be found in doctrinal purity but in warm intense love for both God and man. We must shed the shell of carnal selfishness and light the fires upon the altar of consecration. Until self is given in loving, active service to God and humanity, we are not truly converted to the loving, compassionate Christ, who came to seek and save the lost.