The Compassion of Jesus

“The Compassion of Jesus” John 3:16-17, 1 John 5:11-12 A time ago, I had an opportunity to work at a monument business in Athens. H. Macdonald & Son is the name of the business; and the job was in sales and production of monuments, headstones, and markers. I went into this task totally blind. A job I learned quickly as it was necessary to do the task correctly. After all, this would be a final memory of a person or family member who had passed. There was a lot more to this than design and type of marker. There are rules of each cemetery involved, the accuracy of the information on the marker, placement of the names, and where it would be placed in the cemetery were all crucial. The list of items goes on, but for me it was more than that … it was of a spiritual event. Speaking to each family or individual that was grieving was not, or is not, easy. I learned to listen and hear how the survivor was doing (and, yes, when it was right, I would share some Scripture). Compassion became a daily emotion that developed in me, mostly by God’s grace. Because of my own experience of loss or losses of family members, I could understand exactly what each person was going through. Too many times, and not always a smart move, I advised the family to go home and grieve at home and think about just what they wanted. And more times than not, the family would return and said that they appreciated my compassion and understanding. This was not of my own doing, but I felt over and over Jesus was my guiding force. Now you may wonder why I am speaking about cemetery markers, my former job, etc. It dawned on me that I wanted to speak of compassion. In this world today we hear of too many tragic situations, too many uncaring, almost heartless deeds. From the business world, to political, medical, even in our churches, there is a lack of compassion. As we know, in the weeks ahead, we will learn of Jesus’ suffering and dying on the cross. We feel compassion, sadness, guilt, but in the end, it is all for us — taking our sins, showing compassion to help us start anew. In speaking of death, we all have experienced a loss of a loved one or loved ones. This truly is not an easy matter to speak of but with the help of God’s hand, I will share my thoughts… We learn to have compassion for everyone who has been through a loss, who is grieving. The compassion I speak of was exampled to us all in Jesus and His teaching, His care for His loved ones, as in the story of Lazarus. Hear these words . In John 11:1-7 … Listen for the compassion… “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and Martha (this Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair.) So, the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ “When He heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was sick , He stayed two more days, and then He said to His disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea’” (John 11:1-7 NIV). At this point, I don’t know about you, but I am thinking, WHAT? But this is a lesson in God’s timing and not an easy one to understand. We begin to think that God is not answering the way we want. But He will fulfill all our needs according to His perfect plan. Also, I am thinking, What compassion? Not going to save Lazarus, to heal him … What?! Certainly not what you would think would happen. But as we go forward in this message, Jesus does show His compassion. When Jesus and His disciples go to Mary and Martha, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. When they heard that Jesus was on His way to them, Martha went out to greet Him, but Mary stayed at home. Reading on in John 11: 21-27…. “‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’ “‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into this world’” (John 11:21-27 NIV). To those of us who believe, what a wonderful assurance and certainty we have. “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Hear the compassion again…So as the story goes on, Martha went back to tell Mary that Jesus was near and asking for her. They, Mary and Martha, quickly left their home and met Jesus where He was; and when Mary saw Him , she fell at His feet and said the same words again, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” But when Jesus saw her weeping and all the others who followed them weeping, He was deeply moved. John 11:34-36 … “‘Where have you laid him?’ He asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept. “Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’” (John 11:34-36). As the teaching goes on, we learn that Jesus once again receives the miracle of calling for Lazarus to come out of the tomb … and he does! He raises Lazarus from the dead. Many who witnessed this miracle believed! Now that is compassion…. This is a teaching that Jesus performs through God’s grace and for the disciples to learn. To me this miracle was a way for the disciples, and for us, to see the foreshadowing of Jesus’ life. What would and does happen? Not so sure the disciples realized this right away but, as followers, we too are to see what will happen to Jesus. For me the huge lesson is that Martha, Mary and Jesus all believed in God. They believed that through Him was the only way to eternal life. They all showed compassion. The crucifixion and the suffering Jesus endured is so much that it brings me to tears … to think why do we still not listen to God’s Word? Why do we still sin? Why? Because we are still human, still learning, learning to trust and obey. (pause) The key to remember … I learned from this message that in the Gospel of John, chapters 13,14,15 and 16 are all part of a conversation that Jesus has with the disciples. We all need take time to read this group of Scriptures: instruction in life, how to go on after He has passed, how to live their lives. If you read these chapters, you will find these conversations and instructions are not just for the disciples; they are rock solid. That means these instructions and lessons are still the same now as they were then and should be followed by all who follow Jesus. Although written for the disciples, these instructions are always moving, moving forward, to be shared on and on, from generation to generation… The story of Lazarus teaches us as Christians about how we can have eternal life, if we follow Jesus Only God can restore us to eternal life. Jesus’ tears for His friend Lazarus shows us that the Lord was grieving for His friend. When we grieve, grieve with hope! The compassion of Jesus is with all of us. If only we believe in God, we too can have eternal life. This entire message I have no idea if it was one of Jesus’ last miracles or not, but what I do know is that Jesus is the Son of God. Sent to us at Christmas, born a baby to be here on earth, to grow with us, to show us the way... the way to eternal life. He was sent to the cross to remove our sins…pay for our wrong doings, while Jesus Himself did no wrong. For me, the compassion for others is clearly the way, and is more than enough reason to follow the Word of God. To trust and obey His teaching. To strive for eternal life, through God… if only we believe. Amen. Rosalie