Be Like Jesus- Compassion

Pastor Banks Babade 

7 minute read

Have you ever overheard a conversation about a specific person, only to realize the subject of the conversation was you?

It’s quite a shocking moment to realize when people aren’t talking about someone else, they’re talking about you. Things become personal at that point, for better or worse. And it’s easy to read through the Bible and dismiss key themes and commands, well… because we think it’s talking about someone else. The reality is, the Bible often is talking about

YOU!

Like in Matthew 9:35-38:

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with COMPASSION on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Think about it, the laborer He’s talking about is you! The Lord of the harvest is looking for people exactly like us. For us to be effective, we’ve got to see humanity through the eyes of Compassion. Our heart has to be full of Compassion like Jesus. That’s what I taught this past Sunday, which if you missed the message, you can find it HERE.

So, if you and I are going to Be Like Jesus, we have to be completely filled with compassion. Let’s break this down a little more. Compassion is:

1. Sorrow for the distress and misfortune of another with a desire to help.

2. Identifying with another person or group of people’s situations and allowing yourself to feel their pain.

3. The motivating force that causes you to lay down your life for another.

So, I want to bring this a little closer for us to understand. I often get asked this question from people seeking to be more like Jesus; “How Do I Develop Compassion?”

I’m glad you asked…

1. See people who are in need.

“If someone has enough money to live well and SEES a BROTHER in NEED but shows no COMPASSION—how can God’s love be in that person?”

1 John 3:17 NLT

One of the hardest flaws to correct in ourselves is lack of vision. If we cannot see our neighbors, how can we love them? The pain of a single mom isn’t very immediate or distracting until it’s your sister or friend. That’s one of the many reasons why I love the church! Jesus brings people from all walks of life together, and one of the results is we see each other’s needs.

2. Allow yourself to feel the pain of others.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV

This is one of the most POWERFUL scriptures in the entire Bible. Can we take a moment and look at that again? Jesus was tempted in EVERY RESPECT, yet he did not sin. Jesus was tempted with adultery, greed, theft, abuse of power, rage, and every dirty little secret we still hide away. He was tempted in those ways, and he knows the pain those sins bring us. What an amazing God! No wonder he has compassion towards us.

3. Move beyond feelings to action.

So feeling compassion is one thing, but if it fails to move us to action, it’s pretty useless. Yet many of us can be confused between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Sympathy is when we feel pity or sorrow for someone else’s misfortune, but we care at arm’s length. It’s vertically looking down to the one in pain with concern. Empathy is when we allow ourselves to feel the pain of others to motivate us to action. It’s horizontal which places us on the same plane (eye to eye) with the person who needs help.

One of my favorite scriptures is John 8, in which a woman caught in the act of adultery was thrown to the ground before Jesus. Instead of debating her accusers, he stooped to the ground and wrote in the dust. Nobody knows for sure why he bent down to write, but I like to believe he stooped low because it was the only place he could catch her gaze. He saw her in her pain and embarrassment and had no stones to cast. Now that’s compassion.

If you missed this sermon this weekend, you can find it HERE. I look forward to seeing you next week!