Open Our Eyes to Compassion
Notes
Transcript
Former senator and presidential candidate John McCain tells of an experience he had as a POW in North Vietnam. At the infamous prison called the Hanoi Hilton, McCain had been tied up in a way to create maximum pain. A guard came in for the evening shift, put his forefinger in front of his own lips as if to say, “shh” and loosened McCain’s bonds. As the guard prepared to leave the next morning he came back to tighten them again.
Later, on Christmas Day, McCain was given a brief ten minute break outside his cell. That guard approached. He stood next to McCain and with his foot, the guard traced a cross on the ground and very quickly erased it. There in that horrible prison, the love of Christ had gotten through to one guard and had been extended to a hurting stranger.
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him.
23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”
I. Compassions Display
I. Compassions Display
A. Love
A. Love
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Splonchnizomai-pity
B. Humility
They humbled themselves and came to Jesus. You will never experience the power and blessings of God in your life until you humble yourself enough to come to Him.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
The word compassion is an imperative verb, which displays a command to complete an action based upon authority.
The call to compassion is not a suggestion but rather a command.
διακρινομένοι (diakrinomenoi)- is a challenging word to decipher. it is only used one time in Scriptures and has been translated many different ways. The KJV says to make a difference, the NKJV says make a distinction, while most modern translations say that it refers to those who are doubting.
The idea seems to be that there is a distinction made between two paths and the individual is struggling to decide which way to go. Thus, they are indecisive and hesitant.
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
This is a reminder to have mercy on others who may be hesitant to follow the Lord in faith.
There always some who will be hesitant to obey the Lord. Now this is not a passage that condone’s such hesitance, but rather calls for compassion.
We should never get to big for our britches and forget where God has brought us from.
II. Compassion Plea
II. Compassion Plea
A. A Plea of Desperation
A. A Plea of Desperation
B. A Plea of Faith
B. A Plea of Faith
22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Even when that faith is small, a little faith is all that it takes.
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
This passage is not saying that we have no faith if we cant move a mountain. It is saying that any faith at all is enough to move God to action.
III. Compassions Outcome
III. Compassions Outcome
We see something unique in scripture. Here the first attempt only partially restored sight.
Why was this the case. Why did Jesus remove the man from town only to fail at His first attempt? Was Jesus tired that day or feeling week? Or was there something else going on.
I believe we must examine the context of this passage to gain the proper insight.
A. Faith was increased
A. Faith was increased
B. Sight was restored
B. Sight was restored
Eipon- Speak
Don’t go to town or speak to anyone in town.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;