The Compassion of Jesus
Matthew 14:14: "When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
Matthew 14 begins with the beheading of John the Baptist. Verse 13 picks up with Jesus hearing of this beheading. Jesus and his disciples head off in the boat to find some quiet and rest. As we read in verse 14, the people were not eager to give Jesus this space and rest. Instead, they were waiting for him once the boat arrived to shore. When Jesus saw all the crowds, he didn't lament or seek another retreat. Instead, the text tells us that he had compassion on them. In the Greek, this word compassion indicates a deep expression -- Jesus' whole being was stirred to its lowest depth. Jesus was deeply moved by the needs of the people.
Once again, the compassion of Jesus moved him to work on behalf of the people. His love for the people led him to heal, to talk, to touch, and to minister in the ways they so desperately needed. Never before had a teacher demonstrated this compassion matched with the power to heal.
Jesus was never overwhelmed by the needs of the people. His compassion moved him to heal each person who came to him. Can you see the love in his eyes? Can you imagine that kind of compassion being shown to each person? Can you then appropriate this love and compassion of Jesus for yourself? Matthew recorded these healings of Jesus to demonstrate that Jesus truly was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and all the messianic expectations.
Jesus, as the rightful King, still has compassion on his people. He sees you. He knows you. He understands your deepest aches as well as your needs. His compassion leads him to minister to you today. Jesus still heals. He heals bodies, minds, and spirits.
Lord, we need your compassion in our lives today. Open our hearts, minds, and spirits to fully experience you in that love and compassion. Heal us today. Heal our world so that we may see, know, and demonstrate your Lordship.
Matthew 14 begins with the beheading of John the Baptist. Verse 13 picks up with Jesus hearing of this beheading. Jesus and his disciples head off in the boat to find some quiet and rest. As we read in verse 14, the people were not eager to give Jesus this space and rest. Instead, they were waiting for him once the boat arrived to shore. When Jesus saw all the crowds, he didn't lament or seek another retreat. Instead, the text tells us that he had compassion on them. In the Greek, this word compassion indicates a deep expression -- Jesus' whole being was stirred to its lowest depth. Jesus was deeply moved by the needs of the people.
Once again, the compassion of Jesus moved him to work on behalf of the people. His love for the people led him to heal, to talk, to touch, and to minister in the ways they so desperately needed. Never before had a teacher demonstrated this compassion matched with the power to heal.
Jesus was never overwhelmed by the needs of the people. His compassion moved him to heal each person who came to him. Can you see the love in his eyes? Can you imagine that kind of compassion being shown to each person? Can you then appropriate this love and compassion of Jesus for yourself? Matthew recorded these healings of Jesus to demonstrate that Jesus truly was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and all the messianic expectations.
Jesus, as the rightful King, still has compassion on his people. He sees you. He knows you. He understands your deepest aches as well as your needs. His compassion leads him to minister to you today. Jesus still heals. He heals bodies, minds, and spirits.
Lord, we need your compassion in our lives today. Open our hearts, minds, and spirits to fully experience you in that love and compassion. Heal us today. Heal our world so that we may see, know, and demonstrate your Lordship.
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