A Compassion that Compels

Matthew 9:35-38

There he was, on the street with his steel cup sitting in front of him just waiting for someone to help him out. The people in their expensive business suits just passing him by. Politicians are moving from one place to another not giving him a second look even as they announce to their constituents a desire to help the homeless in their districts and states. All this man wants is from someone to help him for just today. All this man wants is something to eat or somewhere to sleep.

We often see people in need, but what do we actually do to help them? Well they might be dangerous. They are con artists who are just trying to swindle people out of their money. If you give them a ride somewhere, they are only going to pull a weapon on you and rob you of everything you have. What about people in spiritual need? What excuses do we give there? What has our Savior Jesus Christ called us to and how should we respond? Should we respond with excuses and reasoning that excuses us from the more difficult responsibilities or should we respond with a compassion that compels us to action?

In our passage today we see three truths concerning the compassion of Christ.

First we see that Jesus was in the midst of the people. In verse 35 the scriptures tell is that Jesus was going through all the cities and villages. He was in the major population areas, and he was in the small rural towns. He didn’t go to one and not the other, but instead, he was everywhere. The sin level of the people or who they were did not matter to him, what mattered was that they were people in need.

What was he doing in their midst? What was he doing that caused him to want to be with people? He was teaching and preaching or proclaiming the gospel, and he was healing them. What was so important about the healing? Sure people were being freed from their pain, inability to move or see, or other complications, but he was demonstrating to the people that he was sent from God. People need the freedom first and foremost that comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Without that freedom, their healing will be meaningless.

Jesus was right there with them. He was not distant but was there in their midst. As I mentioned earlier it did not matter who they were. He did not create a false barrier to keep himself clean from the sinful people of the world. He was with the sinners. We are told that he ate at the homes of sinners and tax collectors. (Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34) He was a friend of a prostitute.

He was willing to get his hands dirty and possibly soil his reputation in order to do what needed to be done without putting himself in a position to have a lie be thought credible. He was a God who came to the level of man and lived in our midst as one of us.

Second, we see that Jesus displayed compassion to the people. There is a difference between having compassion and actually living it out. He did not have just an emotional ache for the people, it was much deeper and more significant. He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dispirited or helpless. They were wandering aimlessly without any help or leadership. They were not being led to him, the only truth, but they were aimlessly searching and groping in the darkness for what they could not find. People are not only helpless, but they were also harassed. They are being attacked and provoked and have no means of helping themselves. What are they like? Sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are protected when they are together in a flock and when they have a shepherd to lead them away from danger.

He was willing to do something about it. His compassion compelled him to heal people. His compassion compelled him to teach the people. His compassion compelled him to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God to people. His compassion compelled him to die on the cross for them.

Third, Jesus was driven to action. He did not sit around and wait for someone else to do what needed to be done. He did not wait until his disciples were ready for the task. He cared for the people as they needed to be cared for, and he prepared and called others to the same task. What actions was Jesus driven to? Healing. He healed people, and this was foretold in the Old Testament that the Messiah would heal the lame and blind. Teaching. Jesus not only taught in public settings but also in private conversations. Proclaiming the gospel does not require a pulpit, public speaking skills or even a large crowd but can take place in the course of normal conversations. This can take place at home, out with friends and even work if it does not distract from your work. For example, it is real easy to talk with someone while you are both cleaning in the same area. Enlisting Others. Jesus not only took responsibility to complete the task, but he enlisted and called out others to continue the task. We should see the task at hand but also see that the task is continued beyond our personal abilities.

May God give us a compassion for people in this world that compels us to bring the gospel to them. May God use us to bring wholeness to their broken lives.