She could not see His face, but He called her over and she made her way to Him from the back where the women sat. Bent double, looking down, seeing no faces, only the floor, she slowly moved to the front. Immediately, as she heard Him speak,” Woman, You are loosed from your infirmity,” and felt His touch on her, she raised up for the first time in eighteen years. She began praising God for the miracle that would change her life forever. She even heard Him call her a ‘daughter of Abraham’ as He reproached the synagogue leader who was highly displeased that He had healed her on the Sabbath. She listened as He passionately defended her saying, “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”[i] The people heard it too and began praising God along with her.
[i] Luke 13:16
THE INDIVIDUALS
The restoration of the bent over woman is just one of many instances that fill the pages of the gospels with the compassion of Jesus. There were the crowds which He referred to with compassion as sheep without a shepherd, and there are accounts of individuals, such as the bent over woman, described more specifically.
For instance, after a woman worked her way through a massive crowd to touch the edge of His robe, Jesus compassionately stopped to openly recognize and honor her faith. In his book, One at a Time, author Kyle Idleman observes that Jesus publically called her, “daughter” at a time when men never spoke to women in public, even their wives.[i] It reminds us of the previous story when Jesus called the bent over woman a ‘daughter of Abraham.” Such minute attention to the well-being of individuals avidly speaks of the authenticity of Jesus compassion.
[i] Idelman, Kyle, (2022). One at a Time, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI., 27-28.
And there was the desperate leper. Jesus not only healed him, but doing the unthinkable, reached out and touched the untouchable. And there was the large funeral procession leaving the city of Nain carrying the only son of a widow. Jesus looked at the mother with compassion, went over, spoke directly saying, “Do not weep.” touched the coffin and commanded her dead son to rise up. Rather than an obstruction to His path, Jesus saw the funeral procession as an opportunity for compassion.
Taking note of the personal attentiveness Jesus displayed produces greater sensitivity to the depth of Jesus’ compassionate nature. He was not into numbers, an assembly-line approach. It was the individual before Him, their circumstances, history, emotional make-up that were always part of the equation for Him.
THE DISCIPLES
Jesus’ compassion is also revealed in His relationship with the disciples. We read of Jesus defending them against the accusations of the Pharisees for violating Jewish Sabbath and dietary laws. The disciples were called out for breaking the Sabbath by plucking heads of grain to eat and on another occasion, the Pharisees cited the disciples for not washing their hands before eating. In both instances, never abandoning His disciples to defend themselves, Jesus staunchly stood up to the Pharisees.
When Peter was confronted by the religious leaders as to whether His teacher paid the temple tax. Jesus was right there for Peter, raising the subject even before Peter could figure out how to ask Jesus about a somewhat touchy subject. Explaining the situation as one in which He was not obligated to pay the tax, but would do so to avoid offending anyone, Jesus playfully provided the tax money for Peter through the mouth of a fish. I doubt that Jesus was as concerned about His reputation as He was about not putting Peter in a difficult spot. His compassionate nature dictated how He lived at every moment.
THE LAST SUPPER
At the Last Supper Jesus said many things to the disciples that greatly confused them; however, He also spent much time trying to reassure them. For Instance, He knew the disciples were distraught and wanted Him to explain what He meant by going away, but were hesitant to ask. In response, He openly acknowledged their confusion, reassuring them that they would see Him again and they would have no need to ask Him anything.[i]
[i] John 16: 19-23
On this same night, Jesus let the disciples know that he considered them, not His servants, but His friends. His mission was to instruct and train a group of disciples to carry on the kingdom after He left, but they were more to Jesus than a work force, they were His family, His friends and He understood the necessity of making this very clear to them.
US
Jesus’ compassionate nature gives Him insight into our inner nature. We may think that He is only interested in outward obedience, but it is our hearts that He cares most about. Why else would He have talked so much about love? Our inner life holds His attention. Don’t think He leaps over what is going on inside of us.
His compassionate nature wants honesty from us—the only avenue to a real relationship. So often the disciples held back because they were in awe of Him. Yes, we should be awed by Him, but He will not be offended, surprised or disappointed at anything we reveal. (He already knows anyway.) Whatever is going on in us, His compassionate nature can handle it (and handle it well.)
THE PAINTING
Designed to express enclosure, the painted forms project feelings of sheltering and protection while also allowing for breathing space as well. At the same time, the irregular shapes connote an impression of liveliness and animation—life. The painting thus signifies compassion as a sense of security without entrapment and, most importantly, life.
Lord Jesus, Your standards are high and we can lose sight of Your compassion. Mercy, if not another name for compassion, is a close relative. James tells us that mercy always triumphs over judgment.[i] On several occasions, You declared that You came to save, not condemn.[ii] Not that You condone sinful behavior, but as teacher Dutch Sheets remarks, conviction is not condemnation. Conviction dwells in mercy and compassion while condemnation resides in harshness and judgment. We never read of You quizzing those You healed as to why they deserved healing. First, You established a bond of compassion between Yourself and those in need of repentance. Healing and deliverance were instrumental in creating that bond. It was afterwards that You admonished, “go and sin no more, stop sinning”[iii]
[i] James 2:13
[ii] Luke 9:54, John 12:45, John 3:16
[iii] John 8:11; 7:15
Your compassionate attention to individuals teaches that none of us are replaceable. You do not dismiss anyone because they can be substituted with someone else.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
In Your eyes, we are all irreplaceable, worthy of Your full compassion. Seeing everyone as irreplaceable can considerably change our outlook. Suddenly, all are worthy of our full attention.
Help us deliberately seek Your compassionate nature, letting it transform our image of You and, consequently, ourselves as well. May Your compassionate nature so draw us that we would not want to be anywhere else, but in Your presence.
Sydney Walker, October 5,2023
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