Heart Of Compassion

A heart of Compassion

Introduction-

Good morning,

As we look forward to Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. I get excited!

I believe that there are certain things that when talked about in the Word of God brings God’s anointing.

When you talk about the resurrection, it brings God’s Spirit. The empty tomb and what that means.

When you talk about the Holy Spirit of God, the power that we have as believers to not only live victorious ourselves but the power we have to change the world through His Spirit.

When you talk about the promises of God, these things quickly bring God’s anointing and God’s power.

This morning if you would turn to Mark 8, we are going to look at the compassion of Jesus as he feeds the 4000 on His way to the cross and the ultimate sacrifice He makes at the cross for all of mankind.

First, let me point out something in Mark 7-

Jesus was in full swing of his ministry to the people of Israel as He builds a crowd of followers and interacts with the needs of the people.

We see as Jesus was ministering he runs into a deaf and mute man.

someone bring him to Jesus and want him to heal this man.

Jesus (33) “After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha” (which means “Be opened”) at this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. He has done everything well, they said. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Would you let Jesus put a finger in your ears and spit on your tongue if it could heal you?

When you truly encounter Jesus, you will not be able to keep Him to yourself. (repeat)

You will not serve a God that is limited and put into a box.

Keep these things in mind as we look at today’s text.

Mark 8:1-8:13 Read from Bible

Jesus again does a miracle! He feeds 4000 men and that number had to almost double when you consider women and children. Possibly as many as 7ooo-8000 people got feed with seven loafs of bread and a few fish. If you only saw the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish, you missed the point that Jesus was trying to leave with his disciples.

This was the second time that Jesus has feed many people with a few loaves of bread and fish.

The lesson was not the miracle, the lesson was having the compassion of Jesus for those that God has around us.

Being the good shepherd of those that God had entrusted to him, Jesus had compassion for those who had followed him and now after three days were hungry. In themselves, it would be impossible to feed that many people.

Maybe they were just slow learners! Any slow learners here this morning?

Two things jump out at us-

(1)- The compassion of Jesus.

(2) The challenge He puts on his disciples to have the same compassion and the desire to make things happen.

These two things are woven so close together that you cannot separate them. You put a lost soul or a person in need and Jesus is right there, His instinct was to help.

Most people do not have the first instinct to help others in need.

If you had to describe the character of Jesus, What would it be? It would be compassion.

Jesus was continually showing compassion for people around Him. Here are just a few examples:

Jesus revealed who He was to the woman at the well

Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery

Jesus healed those who were sick

Jesus extended forgiveness to those who sought it

Jesus showed compassion on those who were lost spiritually

Jesus life style was one of compassion.

Compassion wasn’t something that Jesus did when people were watching.

It was a part of who he was and a part of the mission He came to complete.

Jesus lived out His compassion in practical ways that made a difference in the lives of people. Jesus showed His compassion to people who needed it and when they needed it the most.

Illustration-

A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.

A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."

An objective person walked by and said, "It’s logical that someone would fall down there."

A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."