Spiritual Transformation: Votech

Compassion, the Jesus example

The Old Testament prophecies about Jesus included descriptions of His compassion:

Isaiah 40:11 NET 2nd ed.

Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.

Isaiah 42:3 NET 2nd ed.

A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees.

Then, His ministry was filled with confirmations

Matthew 11:28–30 NET 2nd ed.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

To become like Christ

1 John 2:6 NET 2nd ed.

The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NET 2nd ed.

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Imitate Jesus? Which story?

John 7:53–8:1 NET 2nd ed.

[[And each one departed to his own house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

John 8:2–4 NET 2nd ed.

Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.

John 8:5–6 NET 2nd ed.

In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?” (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

John 8:7–8 NET 2nd ed.

When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.

John 8:9–11 NET 2nd ed.

Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up straight and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Or,

Matthew 9:35 NET 2nd ed.

Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.

Matthew 9:36–37 NET 2nd ed.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Or,

Luke 23:32–33 NET 2nd ed.

Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. So when they came to the place that is called “The Skull,” they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Luke 23:34 NET 2nd ed.

But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.

Yep, there’s a debate about this

Luke 23:35 NET 2nd ed.

The people also stood there watching, but the leaders ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”

Luke 23:36–38 NET 2nd ed.

The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.”

Luke 23:39 NET 2nd ed.

One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Compassion

Matthew 9:36 NET 2nd ed.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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