Components of Compassion

Gospel of Luke Chapter 7

will begin reading at verse about the Gospel of Luke chapter 7 will again reading at verse 11. When you get there and the cake by looking at you & smile, then I will know them. We're ready to read.

Chapter 7 getting a person now. I'll be reading from the new King James version this morning.

And it reads this way now it happened. Then after that he went into the city called named many of his disciples went with him in a large crowd. When he came near the Gate of the city before the dead man was being carried out. The only son of his mother and she said and she was a will a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her he had compassion over there. Said to her do not weep. What does range mean? Then he came and touched over coughing those who carry them Stood Still. He said young man. I say to you arise first your team, so he was dead set up and began to speak and he presented him to his money. I want to talk on this subject components of compassion.

components of compassion

In the text this morning. Jesus is once again on the move.

And it tells us that he is accompanied by his disciples at a large prayer. The destination is name a city that biblical archaeology has yet to discover. Not a fact Luke is the only gospel writer to mention the city of name. If they are going to name, they run into a funeral procession. The only son of a widow has stopped and he is now being carried to the cemetery. Jesus does not do what we would do today in our culture. As we encounter funeral procession we stopped for Louver and left the funeral. passers-by No, the text says that Jesus interrupts the funeral procession and stops them short of making it to the cemetery. What a convertible courageous Act. We discover that compassion is at the center of Jesus the Razorback. Stop them short of making it to the cemetery. I can speak for you this morning. When I read the story and see how compassion leads to. This kind of life-altering edifying outcome. It creates an appetite within me to live a life. That's filled with more compassion.

And if you want to know how you can live a life that's filled with Compassion or if you are interested in knowing how christ-like compassion looks. Please go along with me as we take a closer. Look at this story of the Widow of May. First thing I want to lift from this text. Is that compassion is awakened by a king or where's compassion is awakened by a king awareness verse 13 says when the Lord saw her he had compassion.

I wonder what the Lord. saw I'm sure he saw the crowd. That was a company her. I'm sure he saw and heard the band that was hard to play funeral music. I'm sure he saw some hired mourners. I'm sure he sleeps all the boys body being carried. Most importantly this text says that he sees the Widow Widow who was perhaps drinking her widow's garment. A widow who was weeping profusely. He sees a widow whose lamenting lavishly. Someone who's drowning in her tears. He sees a widow whose Soul was flooded with sorrow. And whose future was Pope. And as a result of what he saw as a result of his Keen awareness. The scripture says that he was moved with compassion. Not like this word compassion because it points to the emotion of Jesus. Text basically says that Jesus felt something as he look upon the situation of the Widow. He felt something. This word compassion is a hebraism. It speaks of a feeling that starts in the bowel area. And if I can give you a modern picture when Jesus saw this Widow her situation was like a blow to the stomach that took his breath away. I'm so glad this morning that Jesus is able to be aware Lookout at humility and he's able to be moved about what's taking place in the lives of human That's good news for the Widow, but it's also good news for you. And I this morning but if I can testify and be honest with you this morning, I would have to tell you that my truth is that there are time that God has worked miracles in my life. There are times that he showed up in my sorrows not as a result of me saying father I Stretch My Hands To Thee no not because I played prostrate before him with tears running down my eyes not because I was going to have a moment of Praise lifting my hands to grab hold to him, but the calls in his goodness. He naturally sees me. In friends what I'm trying to tell you this morning that from the fact that Jesus naturally she sees it shows us his versatility in which he shows up to rescue his children what I'm trying to tell you what you need to see from the fact that Jesus sees is that there is more than one way that Jesus shows up on your behalf. Oh, yes, he does and I know this because when you compare this miracle story the other Miracle stories in the Bible, you will notice also different last call gyrus to the stand this morning and ask him. How did he get Jesus to intervene and heal his 12 year old daughter who was dying would tell us that he left his house Found Jesus fell down at his feet and beg Jesus to intervene on behalf of his daughter. If we would have called on the woman who was bleeding for 12 years and ask her. How did Jesus become aware of her issue? She would tell us that she had to press Democrat. Touch the Hem of Jesus garment and it was being that Jesus was made aware of her plight. We were to call Mary Martha to the stand this morning and ask them. How is it that Jesus was made aware of the sickness of Lazarus their brother and his friend they would tell us this morning that they had to send the word to Jesus But Here In this passage, the Bible says that Jesus sees this Widow, it doesn't say that she sent someone from the crowd to get Jesus's attention. It doesn't say that she cried out Jesus help me. My son is dead matter fact. She perhaps doesn't even know who Jesus is for. She is not a covenant partner with Jesus in the Bible says that Jesus. Please her. Secondly, I know that that that there is more than one way that Jesus shows up in your life simply by how this passage is position in chapter 7 for this story comes right after an example of Jesus answering the call of a person who demonstrated strong faith and that is the Centurion you remember the story don't you? Listen Tyrion had a slave who was sick and the Centurion sent for Jesus's service once Jesus came once Jesus made it to the house of the Centurion listen to you and said listen Jesus. I have so much confidence in you. I have so much confidence in your ability that you don't even have to go into the house and touch my dying slave you can speak from where you are. And that's exactly what happened. Jesus spoke from where he was. In the Centurion slave was healed, but immediately after the story of the Widow at nain we see a demonstration of a person who appears to have a faith that's physically and that is in the person of John the Baptist and John the Baptist says listen Jesus. I know that there was one point in time that I demonstrated a confidence in who you were that's unparalleled to anybody but I'm in prison now and you've been doing some strange stuff. So tell me are you the one or shall we anticipate another that is a picture of a person's faith? Who's that's physically or the right in the middle of a demonstration of strong faith and a demonstration of anemic confidence in Jesus. There is a picture of Jesus intervening in the Dreadful Affairs of humanity where there is no faith at all brothers and sisters. I come to tell you this morning that there's a versatility to how Jesus shows up and turn your situation around.

That will friends become the story of your life. You will you live long enough you will be able to witness that versatility. There will be times where you say that I experience God Supernatural activity during times when I was completely confident and focused on him where I had a strong confidence and strong faith in him there also be times when God will show up and meet your desperate need work a miracle in your life when your faith is fizzling out and beloved. There will be a time. Their word whoop that there was a time when God showed up in your life and turn your life around when your eyes were not even if he did say it on him. There is versatility to how Jesus shows up and touches our lawn. Jesus Jesus

Has his Keen awareness? That awakens his compassion. And I love it when we experience those times where Jesus shows up. divorce of a call the voice of a prayer when he shows up because he's naturally compassionate and he's naturally aware. We should see those times as a way of God guarding us from the false belief that we have awakened. Jesus is awareness concerning our daily Affairs. The fact that Jesus is naturally we're guards us from becoming the epicenter of our miracles. friends the fact that Jesus sees us prevents us from saying we are the ones who activate Jesus was aware. It prevents us from saying that the Miracles that we experience in our lives that we are the initiators of those Deliverance. It reminds us that we worship the god of our faith and not the guy not the Faith of Our God it let me say that again. It reminds us that we should worship the god of our faith and not the faith about God.

And if you don't believe that there are people who worship the faith. But they should place that they play some God more than the god of their faith. I'm going to invite you to go on a hospital visit with me one day. You can come along with me. We can go visit a Christian who? Received some bad news and they just don't understand why God has a loud them. To be experiencing when they are experienced. You'll notice they'll start asking questions. How can God do this to me?

I pray I read my Bible I try to love right. I'm in church all the time. And what they are saying with those questions is because I place confidence in God because God is at the center of my life because of my piety because of my strong devotion. I should not be where I am in life and I want to tell them but I don't I want to tell That's not how life works.

Go scripture tells us God rains on the just as well as the unjust. And we've been living long enough. We've been walking life with Christ long enough to know that the outcomes in life is not always a reciprocation or reflection of our devotion and piety and our faith in God.

text says that Jesus is moved with compassion calls. He is aware naturally what's going on?

That maybe someone who's not quite so loud on that fact that Jesus sees you. That he just sees you. You made me saying well things aren't going as well as I wanted to go past. I've been experienced experiencing struggle after struggle after struggle. I want to ask you to recall the words of the song right at this morning if that's you. It says why should I feel discouraged? Why? Should I feel alone? Constant friend is he? If he has eyes are on the sparrow, then I know that he watches me Jesus still sees you and he's still move we can pass. We see that compassion is awaken by Keen awareness. Secondly we see that compassion is aggressive because it's willing to become unclean fashion is aggressive because it's willing to become a queen. After Jesus was moved with compassion. The text says that he dinna moves closer towards this woman sorrow, sorry for situation.

Bible says that in him moving closer to This Woman's sorrowful situation. He begins to get intimately involved with her client. After he's moved with compassion his compassion leads him to speak to the woman and to touch her situation. The latter part of verse 13 says that Jesus commands the Widow to stop weeping and then he touches the coffin of the Deadpool the first thing I want you to notice is that command what he says to this Widow it is a strange command at first reading. The first thing that Jesus tells this Widow is to stop weeping. To be honest with you this morning that command that made no sense to me. For anybody who knows anything about the stages of grief. You know that weeping is a part of green particular for a person who's in the situation of a widow. What she's lost her husband. Now she's lost her only son. In that day, you didn't have a male figure to identify with you had no place in society. That means that upon her arrival from the cemetery. Once she made it back to her community. She would be an outcast. She would be relegated to the margins of her community and annoying this the first thing Jesus says to her is to stop crying. It appears that Jesus is Robin is Widow of something that she has the right to do and I'd only have the right to do but I'm something up of one of the only things that she can do he says to her do not weep. Sounds observed at first, but you got to look at this command in context of the ensuing action. Jesus is able to tell her not the week. Because he is about to get ready to turn this widow's life around and so really how we should translate this command or understand this command is that Jesus is saying I'm here. You don't have to leave it alone. He's saying that in in view of what he's about to do next. He's about to turn This Woman's life around the Bible said that after he gave the command to the Widow. He move closer and touch the coffin that the dead boy was laying them. Now this touch touch primarily and primarily to get the funeral procession to stop. He said with with the touch. He says listen stop going in the direction of the cemetery and he's saying this and I can not perform a miracle.

I cannot turn your situation around. But you going in the opposite direction. he touches the coffin of call the dead boy in the funeral procession comes to a halt but I want you to notice that that that that with the touch Jesus is basically saying that I'm willing to become unclean on behalf of a widow that I don't even know. Jesus is saying that I've been aware of what's going on. I'm I'm keenly aware of this widows circumstance. I don't know her but I've been moved with compassion in my compassion has not only move me to speak but it has allowed move me to touch and then touching the coffin of The Dead Boys. I have said that I'm willing to become unclean on this widows, but have I want to submit to you this morning that when your life is filled with a christ-like compassion that you are willing to touch some dirty things that you were willing to go into some dirty places and he was willing to become unclean for the law. His culture says that if any man touches the carving of a Deadman that they should be considered ceremonially unclean for 7 days. And can you see Jesus's Crown as he touched the coffin of his dad poor and can you see them? Can you see his disciples scratching their heads in the raising their eyebrows Whispering? What is Jesus doing here? He knows the law but Jesus is compassion sad that I am willing to become on clean. He touches coughing is Deadpool in Jesus's willingness to speak and willingness to touch reminds us this morning those of us who are concerned about our community who are concerned about the public education system who was concerned about the church who is concerned about the prison the school-to-prison pipeline new Spencer. About a twisted Criminal Justice System. It reminds us that if we're going to affect change that we have to move Beyond evaluating those areas and see what's wrong with them. Insane. What's wrong with them? What nice?

And be willing to put our hands to the plow. Lord help me be patient with people who can only speak but not touch, you know, I get emails and I and I hear Whispers of people even in this church who has a desire to improve this church who hasn't desire to improve Ministries children's church in Elmo four. I mean, I'm I'm with you I have the same vision. I have the same goals and desires that you have but the problem is is that we have too many people willing to speak out about problems. But they're not willing to put their hands to the plow to help rectal about Jesus was willing to Jesus spoke and he Touch This Woman's situation. We see. And I would text this morning. That compassion is awakened by Keen awareness is aggressive because of the willingness to become unclean. I thoroughly we see that compassion Housing Authority that points to the Dubai. fashion Housing Authority that wants to

notice what happens? after Jesus speaks and touches coffin of the Dead Bible says that he said to the young man I say to you arrive. Verse 15 a part says he got up and he began to speak.

He spoke to the boy told the boy to get up and the boy did just that he got up. He began to speak. This is a picture of Jesus resuscitating.

the day this is a picture of the power of Jesus's words. And I'm wondering if that means anything to you. Because I know I have some Bible reads in here and I'm wondering if you're saying to yourself what's special about that for resuscitation Czar, It happened in in the life of Elijah in 1st Kings chapter 17 where he lied to raise the Widow's son at Bear fat passion happens in second can get happened in Second Kings. Chapter 4 what Eli 2nd Kings chapter 4 raise the shunammite woman it even happened in the New Testament Pastor in in a square Peter Peter raised Tabitha Johnson Pastor. Tell us what's so special about Jesus resuscitating this then why I'm so glad you asked if you look at those other store what the dead was raised you will notice that Elijah Elijah and Peter had to put it in some work to resuscitate those dead people. They had to pray they had to call on the name of God and sometimes they happen lay over the dead body to get to have them resuscitated. But here in the store. This boy is raised by the power of Jesus's words and that shows that it points to his divinity. It tells us this morning that we serve the Lord and we have a savior who is unparalleled. We serve the Lord who who has no Counterpoint and you do know that everyone however, great or however evil. They are. They have some kind of part in life. Some people were saved some people say Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player been somebody else to come along until you know, Kobe Bryant or Lebron James. Some people would say Martin Luther King was one of the greatest things that happened to black people invent during the early but not during the early 20th century and then other people will say no it was Malcolm X some people would say prefer Paul over Peter and others would prefer Peter oval Paul subwoofer, Isaiah over Jeremiah Jeremiah over Isaiah. Some would say Walter Payton was the great Running Brook. But if you ask the Dallas Cowboys fan, they would say Emmitt Smith. Perhaps was the greatest running back some people as we look at hip-hop. They would say Tupac Shakur take me on the west coast where we are with say Tupac Shakur was the most influential hip-hop artists and then you can go to the web east coast of State some would say Biggie Smalls. If you ask people who favored preacher is song with Saint Charles Spurgeon others would say, dr. Rowland others others would say eye doctor Ralph West some would say. To see me climb others were say, dr. Gardner C Taylor everybody else. However, great or evil they are they have a counterpart. But when you mentioned the name of Jesus and you run his record, there is nobody else on his level. This is what he shows in this text. Yes, there were other resuscitation stories here in this text as he raises this boy from the dead. He doesn't like no other he doesn't by the power of His words and beloved. I know. I know that we're not Jesus. But when we live a life that's filled with compassion as Christians. We do show people Divine attributes. We tell them that there's someone in living it up who is greater than he who is in the world. We testify that there's someone Who lives in US who's able to use us Beyond human limitation? We tell. that we know somebody. Who's greater? Then anybody anything that they've ever experienced?

We see that compassion is awaken by Kina. Where is its aggressive than that? It's willing to touch dirty people. Is Carrie's an authority that points to the Devon and lastly compassion gives life and life abundantly.

Passion gives life and gives life abundance. Last sentence in verse 15 says that he presented after he raised the boy from the dead he presented him to his mother. Before I take my seat, I want you to know this what happens. after the boy gets up and begins to speak louder part of verse 15 says that Jesus gave him back to his mother. Deadline there tells us that the Widow. Is Jesus's main concern in there? I know a lot of times we like to focus on the direct object of the miracle and that is the boy being raped but this passage forms what we called and includes EO for the passage opens up with Jesus is focusing on the Widow and it closes with Jesus focusing on the Widow by giving the hurt her once dead son back to her. We need to know that that that death does not catch Jesus on gone, but there were many people who died during the life of Jesus. So the main point of this passage is not for Jesus to merely demonstrate that he can restore physical. But he weighs this dead boy to give life back to the Widow. It it it doesn't Jesus says he looked at this Widow that I will not allow but the day is the dead boy's mother to Die 2 and so he says I'm going to raise the boy. So I'm going to get life to the Sun so that I can get with life to the willow.

His compassion gives a life and life abundantly.

And friends that is a great way for us to look at our compassionate at if you at times feel as if your acts of compassion are futile and in bank, this is a great way to look at our compassion attacks. And that is that our compassionate ask again and gives life and life more abundantly to see them giving life to and Beyond the person whom you directly show compassionate towards To know that when you sit behind a glass window and you seek to encourage someone who is in prison by telling them that their life is not over by telling them by encouraging them to make the best of their time. By telling them that that that they shouldn't be increasing their literacy in perhaps they should be learning a trade so that when they when they when they get out they can become a more activated Easter acclimated to the society. Didn't know that in encouraging them your encouraging words. Your influence does not stop with them. But to know that you have prepared them in equip them to go in and encourage somebody else. You need to see your compassionate act as giving life and life abundantly. When you go into one of these public schools in you walk alongside a child who has yet to experience genuine love to know that the love that you showed them does not stop with you but didn't know that you are preparing it to show love and help other show love in the world are far. Are we from you when you run into a brother sister on the Block? Who's engaged in Bad Business and you pull them aside and tell them that that that you can show them a better way to make money that you can teach them the principles of economics principles of marketing. To know that that compassionate impact doesn't stop with them. But to know that it goes beyond them that you are preparing the person in whom you would directly encounter. That you are preparing them to show compassion towards others Jesus demonstrates in this text by giving the song Back to the Widow that his compassion gives life and life abundantly.

This story this morning as shown. How's that compassion attacks often times or the vehicle in which restoration travel? We see that compassion is an instrument or tool that you use to build up. We see that compassion is the air that oftentimes inflate those who are deflated that compassion is the sunshine for the flower that is drowning in rain and been burned up by son. We see that compassion is often times the fuel for those who are gas by running lights rates. We see that compassion is often times. Pliers that loosens the grip of those who are being squeezed by life on just unfair life threatening incomprehensible circumstance.

my brothers and sisters compassion restores life

do you want to live a life? That's full of that kind of compassion. Do you want to be a part of a church? That's known. how the Church of compassion I do. And I hope you do too. God bless you.