Jesus: the Picture of Compassion

The need for healing is universal.

The health care industry is worth over 800 billion dollars and 65% goes to patient care. We put a high priority on healing in this country.

But spiritual healing does not draw near the attention, but is every bit of as important.

God provides for both. We see this in the ministry of Jesus Christ. The gospel testimonies are apparent, but what might be overlooked is the spiritual healing He provided. And people overlook that still today.

It was the fourth century church father, Augustine of Hippo, who wrote in his Confessions:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Such a statement reveals the reality of a God-shaped void each of us has in our lives. It can only be filled with a relationship with Jesus Christ. And the Lord gave Himself to fulfill this need for those willing to repent and believe.

Today, we consider how Jesus’ approach to people was unusual and special. Consider Matthew 9:35.

In it we are told the what, how and why of Jesus’ healing ministry.

Matthew 9:35–36 (ESV)

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Our first observation this morning is that...

Jesus took the time to see after peoples’ great needs for healing.

Notice that the Lord of the universe gave His time and energy to minister to people in their needy condition. His sermons brought spiritual healing while He physically healed everyone who approached him and asked for it.

Think about this, how incredible this would have been in a day when a fever would put your life at risk. This is difficult for us to identify with because we are so used to the the conveniences of modern medicine. Jesus healed with words and touch and personal engagement.

Also, there was a heightened demonic activity because the Son of God was on earth. And so the purpose of Christ healing so many is found in the words of John 2:11 “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

Jesus also lived in a pedestrian society, so there was the demand to walk everywhere and be with people. No zoom, no email, etc. But Jesus took the time.

Why did He do this? He did this out of compassion because He saw the crowds as “...harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

In Biblical times, if there was a flock of sheep with no shepherd, those animals were vulnerable. They were positioned for harm. They were on borrowed time because of predators, thieves, etc.

He was an oasis of life in a dry and dead land. Christ did this because that was His character, His nature. Dr. Dane Ortlund states:

“What we see Jesus claim with his words we see him prove with his actions time and again in all four Gospels. What he is, he does. He cannot act any other way. His life proves his heart.” (Ortlund, 25).

Jesus was also keenly aware of individuals and took notice of their needs. Matthew 8 :1-4 gives us one of those occasions. One of those occasions is found just one chapter before.

Matthew 8:1–4 (ESV)

1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Notice that the leper came to Jesus and knelt before Him. In order to do this, the leper would have to yell “Unclean! Unclean!” and be determined enough to be heard and served. No one wanted anything to do with lepers. It was a helpless situation.

But Jesus answered his prayer (so to speak) by touching him! Only the Son of God would touch a leper. You put yourself at great risk by touching someone with leprosy. But Jesus laid that concern aside and allowed him to draw near. Moreover, He touched the man, giving him his life back. He was willing, and granted the man exactly what he asked for.

Dane Ortlund states:

“What did he do when he saw the unclean? What was his first impulse when he came across prostitutes and lepers? He moved toward them. Pity flooded his heart, the longing of true compassion. He spent time with them. He touched them. We all can testify to the humaneness of touch. A warm hug does something warm words of greeting alone cannot. But there is something deeper in Christ's touch of compassion. He was reversing the Jewish system. When Jesus, the Clean One, touched an unclean sinner, Christ did not become unclean. The sinner became clean.” (Ortlund, 31).

Such power. Such grace. It is a beautiful thing that Jesus would not only heal the leper, but be moved to do so out of compassion for him.

Jesus’ heart must affect our willingness to pray.

I wonder how many times our prayers are hindered by a lack of faith. That we don’t think that Christ is able or we don’t think that he is willing.

We are told in the letter to the Hebrews 4:16

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

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.

Pastor Coty Pinckney says:

“A throne of grace – that phrase appears only in Hebrews 4:16. The king sits on a throne, exercising justice, punishing evildoers, guiding and directing His kingdom. No one who is guilty, no one who stands condemned, can ever boldly approach the throne if the king knows all.

And yet: This king’s throne is a throne of grace. Though He is completely just, He stands ready to forgive and accept because of the mediatorial work of Jesus the Son, the High Priest. We therefore can boldly approach this throne of grace, whatever our doubts, whatever our sufferings, whatever our discouragements. Through Jesus, the King will grant us grace, and a perfectly-timed help.” (Boldly Approach the Throne of Grace – Desiring God Community Church (desiringgodchurch.org)

So how should King Jesus and His throne of grace affect us? I think it should affect us in the following ways:

In prayer. We ought to pray and encouraged. We ought to ask with full faith. Luke 18:1: “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

In provision. We must know that Jesus has our best interests in mind and can provide at any point along life’s journey. 1 Peter 5:6–7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

In protection. We cannot live in fear. Yes, our world is messed up. Yes, there’s a lot of evil out there and peoples love has grown cold. But we must engage this world with the good news and love of Christ. Psalm 46:1–2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way...”

In production. Our spiritual growth is rooted in God. He is the one that causes the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

How Jesus’ heart affects our sense of ministry.

And our Lord said this need for compassion and healing would be perpetual. He wants us to approach ministry with the same mindset. So He commissions more help for the church.

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

William Booth (died in August of 1912) was greatly stirred by the needs of the poor of London, and realized that most churches were doing nothing to reach the “undesirables”—drunkards, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and the poor. He set out to reach them with what he called the 3 S’s: soup, soap and salvation. Thousands were saved among those that most churches had no interest in reaching. Booth gave his life for the cause of reaching others.

In his 80s, Booth’s work began to be hindered by blindness. He briefly lost his sight and then recovered it, but later he lost his vision permanently. His son Bramwell came to bring him the bad news that he would never see again. Booth replied,

“God must know best, Bramwell. I have done what I could for God and the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and the people without my eyes.”

His ministry formed into what would be known as the Salvation Army.

More and more help is needed until Christ returns. Prayer is strategic to this. We must ask God!

Ministry today takes a sense of determination. Intentionality of going into the community and representing Jesus. Letting your faith show as you talk with your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Jesus healed out of compassion for others. We must minister in His name out of compassion and intentionality. The need is great!

Conclusion

Would you be moved with compassion to do something? Would you imitate the Lord?

Jesus’ ministry revealed His heart for others. He provided healing through both His preaching and His miracles. And the need was great, because the people were “…harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The human condition has not changed much since then. Times have not changed in regards to our spiritual condition.

D.L. Moody told the story of his conversion this way: “When I was in Boston I used to attend a Sunday school class, and one day I recollect my teacher came around behind the counter of the shop I was at work in, and put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt that I had a soul till then.

I said to myself, ‘This is a very strange thing. Here is a man who never saw me till lately, and he is weeping over my sins, and I never shed a tear about them.’ But I understand it now, and know what it is to have a passion for men’s souls and weep over their sins. I don’t remember what he said, but I can still feel the power of that man’s hand on my shoulder tonight.”

The concern and tears of a godly teacher resulted in the conversion of a man who saw a million souls saved in his evangelistic campaigns. (A History of American Revivals, Frank Grenville Beardsley)