Jesus stirs compassion

Text:  Luke 10:29-37

Illustration: Christopher Sercye was playing basketball with his friends on May 16, 1998 when he was shot in the chest, and a bullet perforated his aorta. His friends helped him get to within forty feet of the entrance to Ravenswood Hospital and then went inside and asked for help. The hospital staff refused to help Christopher saying that it was against the hospital’s policies to administer aid to those outside the hospital. Eventually a policeman was able to get a wheel chair and wheeled Christopher into the hospital where he was helped by the hospital staff. It was too late, however, and Christopher died about an hour later.

Many times it seems that churches are surrounded by people that desperately need to hear the Gospel, yet Christians are content to share it only with those that manage to come inside their church.

Source: An Introduction to Healthcare Organizational Ethics, Robert T. Hall

CIT: The model of Compassion

It is important that we understand that Jesus is not merely a model of Compassion.  He is not an example he is the source of all compassion when we are showing compassion then we are simply revealing him in us.

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  - Hebrews 5:2

Hebrews 5:2 KJV 1900

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Jesus is the High priest of the order of Melchezidek.  He is the one that intercedes and work on our behalf.

Jesus opens with a different model of compassion.  This is not to be Jesus himself.  But he does use some important characters.

priest

levite

Samaritan

I. Compassion as an act of faith.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. - Luke 15:20

Luke 15:20 KJV 1900

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Explanation:  Priest going to God on behalf of another.

Argument:  Compassion means that we are ready to go on the behalf of another, to the care of the Lord.

Illustration:  Eighteen-year-old Hudson Taylor wandered into his father's library and read a gospel tract. He couldn't shake off its message. Finally, falling to his knees, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Later, his mother, who had been away, returned home. When Hudson told her the good news, she said, "I already know. Ten days ago, the very date on which you tell me you read that tract, I spent the entire afternoon in prayer for you until the Lord assured me that my wayward son had been brought into the fold."

Daily Bread, July 19, 1989.

So much done

Explanation: Jesus has already accomplished so much:

Teaching

Preaching

Healing Sickness

Healing Disease

Argument: Every need that could be met at any given moment was being met. Christ was pushing the limitations of the human flesh. He was running with the throttle all the way down.

Have you ever felt like the work never gets done. Mothers know what this is like. You had the house completely clean like 5 minutes ago. The worse part is that this takes an emotional toll as well as a physical toll. It is a type of torture to feel as if you work and work but accomplish nothing.

Every time Jesus looks up he sees more coming and he was in the burbs he hadnt even got to the big city. In this passage Matthew is connecting us to the feeling of jesus more than the function of Jesus. We are allowed to see here the pressure that Jesus is in.

Transitional Phrase: The emotional pressure was not on what he had done but on what needed to be done.

Application:

Transitional Phrase:

II.   Compassion as Hope

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Explanation:  Levite as a channel by which others could be holy.

Argument:  In his flesh even a Levite could not break the pull of his flesh.  God tells us that if we have our sights set on a eternal life we will count the things of this life of little good to us.

Illustration:

Application:

Transitional Phrase:

III.   Compassion as Expression of Love

I John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:17 KJV 1900

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

I Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:8 KJV 1900

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Whoever said COmpassion is affected by what it sees never met this guy.

It is the appropriate emotional response when we come into contact with the need.  In that passage we find all these people that Christ has helped, is helping, and there is still more to be done.  Compassion is the correct response to the suffering that plagues the world we live in.  Compassion is the appropriate response to hurting homes, broken lives, extinguished joy.  Compassion drove the master to call us to pray that the "Lord of the Harvest would send forth laborers."Explanation:  Samaritan as an expression without bounds.

Argument:

Illustration:  Dr. Mitchell was impressing upon us that we are not under the Law when we're in Christ, but we're under a new law -- the law of LOVE. He used this to illustrate: In America there is a law stating a woman must take care of her child. So, a man comes to a new mother's home. He says "Are you taking care of your baby? The Law says you have to." The woman, tenderly holding her baby, said, "I don't need a law to make me take care of my baby." Why? Because she loves her baby! She feeds him, holds him, changes him because she loves him. I no longer need the Law because I'm under Christ -- a law of LOVE.

IN Matthew 9 - Needs abound

Explanation: Jesus is looking at all that is yet to do. “But when he saw the multitude...” The word “but” makes us stop and compare. To hold up all that was done to all that needs done.

Jesus doesn’t get hung up on what he had done. Some people feel this way. I have served in this church for four years... I have given and given... This is the way that Peter viewed it when he asked Christ how many times to forgive his brother. “Seven times”. In other words, “I have forgiven him at least seven times.” Jesus response was “seventy times seven”. It is not how much you have done but what needs to be done.

Argument: when he saw the multitude” I think this should remind us that we can work for works sake. But there will come a time that in your service you will see the people.

We must determine to see the people.

It is this point where we see something happen in Jesus an emotional response called compassion. Many of you have heard the teaching that

“com” - with

“passion” - strong emotion

It is important or even imperative that God’s people take the ministry personally. That we be people that want to see more done.

This will move us to take God’s perspective.

1. Give of Ourselves

2. Feel for Hurting People

2.Give of ourselves

3.Make place for more.