The Manifested Compassion

Compassion is one of the godly characteristics Jesus Christ had displayed during His time here on earth. He performed miracles out of sheer compassion for people he had met on His journey.

First, let’s peek into what compassion is: Compassion is a sympathetic pity and concern of misfortunes or sufferings of others with a desire to alleviate or uplift them. Some of its synonyms are benevolence, brotherly love, understanding, kindness, and many more.

My five-year-old son gently strokes the side of my face and head, as I lay down waiting for the pain to subside. My face must have shown too much although I keep trying to hide my pain. I want them to know less of what I’ve been going through, as they’re just a child.

It was the best he could do at this time showing his sympathy to my frequent pain. And I very much valued his prayers for me, so I ended up telling him about the by myself. His soft hands are the outcome of his sensitive and compassionate heart.

When it is time for taking regular dose of my medicines, he’d run to get water for me. He’d put the medicine tablets in my mouth, counting the number of tablets, and give me water or either try to pour in my mouth for me to swallow. He cared for me and that is what he wanted me to know. Further, when it’s time for bed in the night he’d never forget to add me to his prayer list.

When we’re suffering for a long time, we can easily get submerged in a muddle of emotions. So a little act of compassion or kindness is all healing and powerful if it comes at the right time. It is more of the Compassion of God in human form since we cannot see Him face-to-face as yet.

In the abiding grace of God, our sufferings and adversities can become the tools for discovering the compassion of Christ, as we been through the realms of life. As we evaluate the life which has been filled with diverse ingredients of life, we’d lean more to the one who loved us.

The Compassion of Christ:

We have seen several instances in the Bible where Jesus Christ is moved with compassion. He knows the needs of every person, in His abiding grace, provide or filled should anyone approach Him.

A great crowd of people followed Jesus, to the far shore of Galilee, because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Jesus saw them; he was filled with compassion and healed their sick.

As evening approached, the disciples are worried lots. They urged him to send the crowds away so that they can go to the village and buy some food. They know it would not be easy to provide food for the hungry crowds in the remote place.

Jesus told them, “They do not need to go away. Give them something to eat.” The crowds must have been tired and hungry, still, their hope and eagerness to listen left them stranded, far away from the village. (Read John 6:1-14)

He saw their needs; he fed them miraculously. He doesn’t want them to go hungry from him. It was known popularly as ‘the Feeding of the Multitude’, five thousand in numbers, only from five loaves of bread and two fish.

The God Who Sees Our Needs:

As mentioned before, Compassion is one of the godly characteristics we can also show to our fellow beings if it comes from the heart. It does really help some people who are in the valley of trials and temptations.

Jesus saw the sick, the poor, the needy, and the sinners. He empathize with them and gave their needs accordingly, especially to those who have hope in him. If anyone comes to him with sincerity and trust, he never despises them.

When the night descended and it is time for sleep but the heart is still burning. The neuron functioning inside the brain could cause burning sensation or pain outwardly. At these times, it is hard to put your mind to sleep and I need special intervention.

I would often pray, in those moments, so that I may fall into sleep escaping the world of suffering for the whole night. Many times I reminded myself the Compassion of Christ had for me. And that his compassion is enduring.

The comfort, I usually get, is Jesus saw me; he had compassion for my pain. We are not alone in our suffering; beyond the understanding of human he is compassionate.

The Manifested Compassion of Christ:

Christ had compassion, first and foremost, for the sinner and the lost. He had compassion for all men afflicted by any form of misfortune, wretchedness, degradation, and bereaved form the lost of loved one.

The compassion of Christ was not manifested in mere feeling or in words. It was followed by action, self-sacrificing, and persistence to the needs of the one whom he had compassion upon.

In stillness of time, listening to the cry of people, he’d stopped by to the needy. There are times he restored the departed to the bereaved for a while, and sympathize them sorrowful to weep no more even from the cross.

He physically touched the lepers in his own hands in his compassion. For years the lepers had not felt the touch of a clean and loving hand healing them. Imagine what would the joy of the degenerate people outside the villages when they are touched by a clean hand.

He dined with sinners; talked about the love of God to the outcast and show them the way to the father. In his compassion, he brings joy and value to the wayward people. It is for all people who go to him for help.

To the one who is thirsty, he teaches them patiently and offered and gives water to the willing soul so that they may thirst no more. He himself was weary and sore at heart thus understanding the sufferings of man.

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. (Isaiah 49:13)

Make my joy complete
In your mercy and compassion
Shelter me tenderly
Let your mercy fall on me
Scar body of yours,
For hiding my scar forever

My Savior touched me
Love and grace I feel each day
In your abiding grace
Abounds my life abundantly
You drenched my thirst
Let the living water flow in me