The Compassionate Care of Jesus

Some of you may be familiar with Ligonier Ministries. Ligonier is an international Christian discipleship organization that was founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971. The ministry exists to serve the church by equipping Christians to articulate what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it. In the early stages of Ligonier Ministries, as the organization was experiencing growing pains and increasing in popularity, a consultant was brought in to help develop a vision and strategy for this fast growing ministry. This consultant came in to speak with the R.C. and asked him two diagnostic questions.

The first question he asked was, “What is the greatest need of people in the world.” Instantly, Sproul responded, “People in the world need to know who God is.” The consultant, wishing to go a little deeper, asked his second question, “What is the greatest need of people in the church?” Again, without missing a beat, R.C. gave the same answer as before, “People in the church need to know who God is.”

Dr. Sproul was right. The basic need of every individual, whether outside or inside the church is to know who God is and what He is like. Because when people know who God is, who He really is and what He is truly like, it will impact the way you live before Him.

Moses came to the same understanding long before R.C. and Ligonier Ministries. Moses knew that he needed to know who God is and what He is like. And it was this understanding that moved Moses to make a bold request of the LORD on Mount Sinai. Moses has returned to the mountain after dealing with the idolatrous Israelites to receive the Ten Commandments for a second time. As Moses met with God, he made this earnest request:

Exodus 33:18 NASB95

18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”

This is perhaps the greatest request anyone could ask of God. And, this is a request that the LORD delights to answer. He told Moses:

Exodus 33:19 NASB95

19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

Notice the connection between Moses’ request and God’s answer. Moses asked to see God’s glory. God replied that Moses would see His goodness, hear His covenant name, and know what He is like.

Then, a few verses later, the LORD, for the first time in Holy Scripture, revealed His own nature, character, and heart explicitly in His own words.

Exodus 34:6 NASB95

6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;

Intrinsic to God’s glory is God’s goodness. And significantly, the first thing the LORD reveals to Moses about His glory, His goodness, aside from His covenant name, is that He is compassionate. Twice, in a span of a few verses, the LORD reveals Himself to be a God of compassion. It is a word which means “to love deeply or to have tender affection”.

In the Old Testament, compassion describes God’s affection which moved Him to rescue His people again and again from their sin and sin’s consequences. In the New Testament, the Greek word for compassion describes the deeply felt emotions of someone toward those who are especially suffering and find themselves in dire need. When compassion is used of the LORD in the Old Testament or of Christ in the New, it typically refers to Him knowing and seeing the plight of sinners or the sufferings of His people, which results in Him showing compassion for the sake of deliverance. His compassion moves Him to do something to solve and save the sinner or those suffering.

God’s first explicit revelation of Himself, of His heart, was there on Mount Sinai to Moses, where He revealed Himself to be a God of compassion. Not surprisingly then, Jesus Christ, when He revealed Himself, His true nature, His heart of hearts, says of Himself in Matthew 11, “I am gentle and lowly in heart.” In other words, Jesus Christ is compassionate.

All this to say, if we are ever to know who our God and Savior is, what He is really like, we would do well to believe what He says about Himself. He is full of compassion. And what makes God compassionate, what makes Jesus truly compassionate, is that He can do something and has done something to remedy man’s estate of misery and suffering. Jesus Christ is compassionate because He has, can, and will meet our most dire needs.

We can see this from our passage in Mark’s Gospel today. Turn with me now, to Mark chapter 1, verses 29 to 31, where we are going to witness Jesus showing His compassion to someone who was suffering and in dire need.

Mark 1:29–31 ESV

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Without question, we plainly see from Mark’s account of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law that:

Theme: Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering.

There are many other occasions where this theme will pop up in Mark’s Gospel, but this is the first blatantly obvious manifestation of Jesus’ compassionate care in this Gospel for the suffering.

This morning, it is my desire that we would see Jesus to be compassionate and to believe that He does care for those who are suffering. May His compassionate care comfort you, no matter what sort of suffering you are enduring today; whether it be a small matter or something far more significant, be comforted that Jesus compassionately cares for you. At the same time, I want to call on you all to trust in Him more as the One who sees you, knows you, is concerned for you, and is able and willing to deliver you from all of your sins as well as care for you through any of your sufferings.

As we look at these three verses in Mark chapter 1, I want to direct your attention to five ways that Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering. This list won’t be exhaustive by any means, but this is what is revealed to us about our Amazing Savior in this text.

1. Responsively

The first way that Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering is responsively. Not responsibly. Responsively.

After His astonishing teaching and amazing power over the demon possessed man, Jesus and His four disciples leave the synagogue and enter into Simon and Andrew’s home. Traditionally, a synagogue service would end around noon on the Sabbath day, meaning it was about meal time by time people returned to their homes. Since it was prohibited to do any work on the Sabbath, a simple meal requiring little effort would be prepared by the women of the home to be served after the service. Not too dissimilar from what we do after our church service, except maybe we tend to go out to eat.

When I was growing up, it was typical for my mom to have a pot-roast cooking in the crockpot while we were at church which would be ready to devour by time we returned home. I remember those rare occasions where my mom wasn’t around to prepare that meal after church. If memory serves me, she either had something pre-cooked in the fridge for us to reheat or else my father wouldn’t even attempt to cook and we’d end up at a restaurant!

So, I can sympathize, I think to some degree, with how Jesus and His disciples felt as they entered into Simon’s house to find the cook bed-ridden by a fever and no meal was on the table! But it was not the suffering of the disciples’ hunger that required Jesus’ compassionate care! Instead, as we are made aware, it was Peter’s mother-in-law.

Mark 1:30 ESV

30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

These men had just witnessed Jesus perform a great miracle in the synagogue and now they see another with a need that the Lord could surely address. Without waiting another moment, the disciples, probably led by Peter, immediately told Jesus about Peter’s mother-in-law. From the way Mark retells this account, no doubt exhorted by Peter himself to write it down, we get the sense that this request was urgent. “Immediately they told Him about her.”

Now, to us, who live in the modern world with medicine to cure or relieve just about any sickness, we might not think anything about a fever. It’s not that big of a deal to us. We go to the local drugstore and buy a bottle of aspirin or ibuprofen for under $5. We pop a couple of capsules and within an hour or so our fever breaks.

But the people in Jesus’ day were not so blessed. Really, a fever had no medicinal remedy. There were some primitive ways of dealing with a fever, but for the most part they were very superstitious solutions. A fever, therefore, could be life threatening at times, as was the case with Simon’s mother-in-law. Dr. Luke, in his Gospel recounts that she “was ill with a high fever” (Lk. 4:38). And actually, the word that Mark uses to describe this fever is “fiery”. She was burning up. It had disabled her and driven her to bed. This was a serious fever and unless it was treated immediately it would consume her.

So, the men go to the only One they knew could help. They entreat Jesus on behalf of Simon’s mother-in-law to have compassion upon her. And, the text informs us that Jesus listened to their urgent request and that He acted upon their request. The request was immediate and Jesus’ response was equally immediate.

Again, to us, the disciple’s request seems rather small, maybe even insignificant. There are some people, I would guess, who might scoff at such a request. “Really!?! You’re going to bother the Sovereign Lord over such a small matter?” But, Jesus’ response to the disciples’ request teaches us that He isn’t bothered by seemingly trivial things. Jesus actually received and responded as if it were the most pressing matter in the world at that moment!

There are three points I wish for us to take to heart before moving on.

Number one, Jesus is always available, always accommodating, always accessible, and always answering. He is never annoyed by those matters that we bring to Him in prayer. It never inconveniences Him to help us and to meet our needs. He is willing to hear us and just as willing to help.

Number two, since number one is true, then let us bring everything to Jesus in prayer. No matter how small or trivial the request may be to us or to others, Jesus is ever ready to respond. All He asks is that we come to Him and lay our burden upon Him, even if that burden only weighs an ounce. Often times it is the smallest burdens that weigh us down the most because we never think to cast them upon the Lord’s almighty shoulders. So they just keep adding up until we are left bent and broken by our worries, cares, and problems that have steadily built up over time. But, we should have the mind of these disciples to lay everything before Jesus, who has absolute authority over all things. He can cast out demons and cure diseases. He can remove our boulders, but He is equally willing to take our pebbles.

And number three, these disciples interceded on behalf of another. They weren’t being selfish about their empty, gurgling stomachs. They were concerned for one they loved and so asked the Lord for help. That is why this church gathers on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm each week. We come to intercede on behalf of others in this church, associated with this church, related or otherwise to those in this church out of love and compassion. And by the way, we have plenty of room to add to this weekly gathering. Currently, we don’t have a very large group, but they are a faithful group of prayer warriors who care for you and for others enough to bring everything to the Lord in prayer. So, I exhort you and urge you to please join us for that time and I am confident that you will see the Lord work in marvelous and miraculous ways within and outside this church.

Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering responsively.

2. Humbly

The second way that Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering is humbly.

Peter’s mother-in-law is laid up with a terrible fever that has rendered her immobile and helpless. Many of us know how that feels! At some point you may have had a fever like this. You’re unbearably hot, burning up, yet at the same time unbelievably cold and shivering. You have aches and pains all over your body. It hurts to even think about moving. So, all you can do is just lay in bed hoping, praying, and waiting for relief.

The only hope for this suffering woman is to be seen by a physician capable of treating her. But, that physician would have to come to her, as she could not move. She needed a willing physician to come to her bedside and attend to her needs. And that is exactly who Jesus is and what He did for her. We read:

Mark 1:31 ESV

31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

This woman’s burden, her sickness and suffering, did not disqualify her from receiving the care she required. Quite the opposite, actually. It was her sickness and suffering that qualified her to receive proper attention and care. In Jesus Christ, Peter’s mother-in-law found a willing physician who humbled Himself to come and attend to her need. All she had to do was lay there, and Jesus would come to her.

After what people had witnessed in the synagogue earlier that day, it may have shocked many that a Man with such authority and power would lower Himself to such a position. People might have expected Jesus to require others to come to Him to experience His power. But what happened in Peter’s home, as well as in countless other cases throughout the Gospels, is that Jesus was the One who came to those in need of His power. Next week, Lord willing, we will see the entire city coming to Him for healing, but here Jesus goes to this suffering woman to heal her.

Amazingly, He does not approach her reluctantly as if He’d rather be fishing! Nor does Jesus come to her half-heartedly, as if He’d rather not get close enough in case whatever she was suffering from was contagious! His only care was for her and for her well-being. Jesus went to her willingly because He wanted to help her and He went to her unreservedly caring not about Himself, but about her and her needs.

Again, there are three points I wish to make regarding Jesus’ compassionate care at this stage.

One, compassion is a gift from the Lord. It is His grace in action, which is undeserved, unmerited by us, yet a grace we are desperately in need of. Those who are suffering desire a physician, desire a solution to whatever ails them or plagues them, but are unable to attain it in and of themselves by their own strength. The aid must come from outside themselves, from One more powerful than they, and from One who is willing to come to their aid. The same is true for sinners. It is God’s gracious compassion that moves Him to rescue those lost and dead in their sin. Christ’s compassion is not for those who can help themselves, but for those who cannot help themselves. It is His free, genuine care for perishing sinners and for pitiful sufferers.

Two, compassion is not only an act of grace, but also an act of supreme humility. Jesus showcased that here. He does not hold the sick, the suffering, or even the sinner at arms length. Instead, He approaches and completely avails Himself to such people.

And three, never has there been anyone as humble as Jesus. We see shadows of His sort of humility throughout Scripture and in our own lived experiences, but never will we encounter anyone with such humility as Jesus Christ. He who is infinitely transcendent over His creation condescended and entered His creation to approach, touch, and save the sick, the suffering, and the sinner.

Jesus shows compassionate care humbly.

3. Gently

Now onto the third way that Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering. Gently. The very definition of compassion centers upon gentleness. Compassion, remember, is “to love deeply; to have tender affection towards”. In the next phrase of verse 31, we see how Jesus dealt gently with Peter’s mother-in-law.

Mark 1:31 ESV

31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Jesus dealt with this women gently by taking her by the hand. He isn’t rough with her. He isn’t overly aggressive in His treatment of her fever.

How is one as powerful as Jesus able to deal so gently with one so weak? Because the idea of compassion, of gentleness, requires the ability to sympathize with others. To be gentle involves some measure of identifying with and having a shared experience with another.

Jesus is perfectly suited to be compassionate and gentle. He is able to deal gently with those who suffer because He Himself knows what suffering is. He knows what it is to be human. The author of Hebrews argues repeatedly that Jesus can identify and sympathize with sinners and sufferers because He Himself suffered, yet remains sinless. The focal point of Hebrews is to display Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest, who sinners can run to for merciful cleansing and who sufferers can rely on for gracious strength. This argument comes to a head at the end of Hebrews chapter 4 into chapter 5, where the author writes:

Hebrews 4:16–5:2 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. 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

Here, the point is that Jesus can deal gently with sinners who have strayed from grace. But, I would also set before you that this equally applies to how and why Jesus can deal gently with sufferers also. He can deal gently because He understands what it is to be weak, what it is to suffer. Just because He is sovereign and omnipotent does not mean Jesus will be distant or callus. To those who are suffering, He is a Servant. And to those who are sinners, He is a Savior. All of us fall under those two categories. So, it is good news to us that Jesus is compassionately gentle in how He cares for us because He can sympathize with us and knows how to address our needs. The whole theme and thrust of Mark’s Gospel is to show us that Jesus Christ is the Suffering Servant-Savior. He came to serve to save the suffering and He came to suffer to save the sinner.

Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering gently.

4. Mightily

Fourth. Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering mightily.

It is wonderful to know that Jesus is responsive to our requests, that He is humble in coming to us, that He is gentle in dealing with us, but it is far more encouraging and comforting to know that Jesus actually possesses the power, the ability to address, attend, and care for everything from which we suffer. Without the power to actually help those in need, compassion is just an empty intention, just positive thoughts and vibes sent someone’s way, but void of any real benefit.

But that’s not Jesus. As we’ve seen in the synagogue already, Jesus has the authority and power to cast out demons. Now, in Simon’s home, Jesus has the authority and power to cure diseases.

Mark 1:31 ESV

31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

No doubt you’ve noticed as we’ve walked through just the first half of chapter one that Mark loves to be dramatic by employing dynamic action verbs to the narrative. He described Simon’s mother-in-law as being stricken by a “fiery fever”, and now Jesus “lifted her up”. Figuratively, this action means “to restore to health or resurrect from the dead”. It is the very same verb used by the apostle John to describe Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. It’s the same word Mark will use later to describe Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. And it’s the same word Mark reports the angel saying to the women at Jesus’ tomb:

Mark 16:6 ESV

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

So, this word Mark used to describe Jesus lifting Peter’s mother-in-law to her feet is beautiful imagery of His resurrection power. This woman received a foretaste of the power that every believer experiences because of Christ’s resurrection: Newness of life.

This is the power that all sufferers need. The beauty of this power of Jesus is that it is available to any that long for it and need it.

Additionally, this same power is made available to sinners dead in their trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

If you are suffering today, know that you can draw strength from the kind and strong Lord. If you are stuck in your sin, then know that you too can have His mighty strength, which seeks you out, saves you out of the pit, and raises you up to life in Him.

Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering and even the sinner, mightily.

5. Effectively

The fifth and final way Jesus compassionately cares for the suffering is effectively. It is one thing to know that Jesus is compassionate; it is one thing to know that He is mighty to save. But, it is glorious news to know that compassion and power actually provide what we so desperately need. In short, the reason we can say Jesus’ compassion is real is because it works!

Mark 1:31 ESV

31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

The result of His omnipotent, compassionate care is that the fever immediately left her, leaving her completely healed, restored, revived.

While we may view this as a miracle that Jesus performed, really all Jesus did was restore this woman to the way things ought to be in the Kingdom of God. To us this act is supernatural, and rightfully so. But, in a sense, it is totally natural! This is the way things should be. Before the fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed this state of perfect health and all was right in the world. But when they sinned, they plunged the entire cosmos into sin and under the curse of God. Everything that God proclaimed as “very right and good” became “very wrong”.

Mark wouldn’t have us miss what Simon’s mother-in-law experienced at this moment. He wouldn’t have us miss the reason why Christ came. He came to right what was made wrong, to restore what was destroyed, and to revive what is dead. He effectively gives her back her life.

Here in Mark, we have proof that Jesus’ compassionate care was totally effective.

Mark 1:31 ESV

31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Don’t miss this! This is extremely significant! As immediately as she was spared from her fever, she immediately started to serve her family.

Here is the proof of Jesus’ effective healing. This woman, who was disabled from a burning fever, now stood, moved, and served. What she couldn’t do before, she now does. In a way, I believe this was Jesus demonstrating to His new disciples through this woman what true discipleship is. The characteristic of discipleship is service. Simon’s mother-in-law recognized the loving service Jesus had done for her and it motivated her to serve others with the same love.

One last time I wish to offer some points for you to walk away with from this.

Number one, Jesus is sufficient to save. In fact, He is the only sufficient One who can and does save. That includes physical healing and temporary relief from suffering and sorrows, but it also includes spiritual healing and eternal relief from everlasting suffering and sorrow in hell. The Bible says that there is healing in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Isaiah says:

Isaiah 53:4–5 NIV

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

More than just the immediate, temporary healing and relief that some who suffer may experience, all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, who trust in Him as Savior from their sin and Lord of their life will experience eternal and permanent healing and relief. Simon’s mother-in-law got a foretaste of the glory to come. She was introduced temporarily to the day when:

Revelation 21:4–5 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

If you’ve trusted in Christ’s righteousness, His vicarious death, and glorious resurrection, then this will be your experience some day. This is a day we should be longing to see and enjoy! This is a day that is only made possible by the compassionate care of the Lord Jesus!

And number two, we are saved to serve. If you are a believer you have been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ to serve Him and to serve others. I know I say that a lot, but it is vital for our understanding and of our being disciples and making disciples. Service is so integral to who we are in Christ and what we are to be doing in Christ. We love Christ and we love others because Christ first loved us. We serve Christ and we serve others because Christ first served us. One of the most Christ-like things you can ever do is compassionately care and serve another who is in dire need.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ compassionately cares for the suffering responsively, humbly, gently, mightily, and effectively.

Are you someone who is going through troubled times and afflicted with sorrow today? Are you someone who is suffering and in dire need of relief? Then take comfort that Jesus is compassionate. He is aware of your suffering and His compassion engages Him to support and deliver you by His grace. Draw near to Him and you will find He is strong and kind.

Are you someone who does not know the heart of Jesus today? To you, I hold out the Savior’s heart; His heart of compassion and power. Is there anything more attractive to you this day than the heart of the Sovereign Lord that beats for you? Jesus is willing to care for you, He is available to care for you, He is accessible for you to come to Him, and He delights to show sinners and sufferers like you His goodness and compassion. If you don’t know the truth of His heart for you, you can know it. He desires to touch your life with His compassionate, resurrection power. Look to Christ and live!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I call on you, on all of us, to pray for the Spirit to produce within us the heart of Christ. Out of gratitude and awe we should respond to the compassion Christ has for us by extending that same compassion to others.

One way to be motivated to serve others in compassion is to reflect upon and fully appreciate the deadly fever of sin from which Jesus so graciously, compassionately, and powerfully delivered us. That is one of the reasons why we observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. It is a time for us to reflect upon and remember how destructive and deadly our condition was before Jesus Christ came to our house, took our hand, raised us up, and our hell-hot fever of sin was cured.

As we remember and reflect upon this reality, we can expect that worship will arise from our hearts, our tongues will pray more earnestly and persistently, and our service toward Christ and toward others will flow more freely from our hands.

May we have this mind among ourselves, which is ours in Christ Jesus.

AMEN

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