Text: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them....” (Matthew 9:36).
According to The American Heritage Dictionary the word “compassion” is defined as “The deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another, together with the inclination to give aid or support or to show mercy”.
Is compassion relevant today? Are Christians compassionate toward one another? Are people in general compassionate toward each other regardless of their faith or lack of faith? Do you and I show compassion in our daily walk?
I want to share with you a story that demonstrates a lack of compassion. This story was written by Charles Swindoll and appeared in the Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional, September 12, 2003. Listen very carefully.
“Who really cared? His was a routine admission to busy Bellevue Hospital. A charity case, one among hundreds. A drunken bum from the Bowery with a slashed throat. The Bowery… last stop before the morgue.
“The derelict’s name was misspelled on the hospital form, but then what good is a name when the guy’s a bum? The age was also incorrect. He was thirty-eight, not thirty-nine, and looked twice that. Somebody might have remarked, “What a shame for one so young,” but no one did. Because no one cared.
“His health was gone and he was starving. He had been found lying in a heap, bleeding from a deep gash in his throat. A doctor used black sewing thread to suture the wound. Then the man was dumped in a paddy wagon and dropped off at Bellevue Hospital, where he languished and died. But nobody really cared.
“A friend seeking him was directed to the local morgue. There, among dozens of other nameless corpses, he was identified. When they scraped together his belongings, they found a ragged, dirty coat with thirty-eight cents in one pocket and a scrap of paper in the other. All his earthly goods. Enough for another night in the Bowery and five words, “Dear friends and gentle hearts.” Almost like the words of a song, someone may have thought.
“Which would have been correct, for once upon a time that man had written the songs that literally made the whole world sing. Songs like “Camptown Races,” “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” and two hundred more that have become deeply rooted in our rich American heritage. Thanks to Stephen Collins Foster.
“Today, some of these forgotten souls are in prison. Some in hospitals. Some in nursing homes. And some silently slip into church on Sunday morning, confused and afraid. Do you care enough “to show hospitality to strangers,” as Hebrews 13:2 puts it? It also says that in doing so, we occasionally “entertain angels without knowing it.”
“Angels who don’t look anything like angels. Some might even look like bums from the bowery, but they may have a song dying in their hearts because nobody knows and nobody cares. Deep within many a forgotten life is a scrap of hope, a lonely melody trying hard to return.”
-------------Dr. Charles Swindoll
Where was the compassion for Stephen Foster? Where is the compassion for our loved ones? Are you and I willing to reach out and lend a helping hand to the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, the lonely, the incarcerated, or the lost? Are we willing to share in the suffering of these children of God? Are we ready and willing to extend Jesus’ love to those who are wandering around like lost sheep?
Jesus said, “I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me” (Matthew 25:35).
Jesus is telling us that whenever we show compassion to others, we are serving Him. Whenever we are empathetic toward those who are in need or those who are hurting, we are serving Him. Whenever our sympathy moves into action mode, we are serving Him. Whenever His love flows out from us to those who are lonely, lost, or believe they are friendless, we are serving Him.
“Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught” (Mark 6:30).
The disciples had been out preaching the message of repentance. They were anointing many with oil, casting out demons, and bringing healing to those in need. Jesus had sent them out in pairs and “gave them power over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7).
These disciples had been on the road. They were doing the work the Master gave them to do. They traveled from town to town and now Jesus called them back and gathered them together so they could give Him a report of what they had accomplished. The disciples needed some time to regroup. They needed some rest and relaxation.
The task of working for the Lord is not easy. I say this because missionaries, ministers, pastors and teachers of God’s Word face many difficult situations. Missionaries are sent to areas that are hostile, language is a barrier and the culture is much different than what they have been accustomed to.
Ministers, pastors and teachers who are dedicated to preaching and teaching the unadulterated or pure Word of God are not accepted by all people. There are some whose lives have been threatened by someone who does not agree with them.
We have read in the newspaper and heard on the TV about pastors murdered in their home. Not too long ago, one pastor was shot in front of his congregation. Another was murdered along a highway after another driver forced him off the road.
The devil is hard at work planting the seeds of envy, greed, dissatisfaction, jealously, spitefulness, destruction and many others in the minds of some of God’s children. Evil forces are on the upswing, but God is still on the throne. Satan knows his time is limited and he knows his final destiny. Therefore, he is working overtime in order to gain as many converts as he can.
The disciples faced difficult situations and circumstances, but they kept their eye on the Master. They worked hard and now they were asked to give an account of their efforts. Every worker for Jesus will be asked to give an account of their accomplishments. Every worker will need rest after they labor in the Lord’s work.
Jesus said to the disciples, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Jesus said this because large crowds followed Him and His disciples. I believe John’s disciples were also in this group Jesus called away to rest. John’s disciples were now without their leader so they turned to Jesus to find compassion and fellowship.
Jesus and His disciples boarded a boat and proceeded to move to a deserted area. The boat was the mode of transportation because it was quicker and easier than moving by land. People watched as the boat moved away from the shore and out into the water.
Word spread that Jesus and His disciples were moving across the lake. People wanted to be in the presence of the Master, so they ran by land to the other side of the lake. The group grew as people from the surrounding cities were eager to join the group headed toward the desert where Jesus and His disciples were to rest.
The great multitude of people were on the shore waiting when Jesus and His disciples reached the shore. “They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd, So He began to teach them many things” (vs. 33, 34).
The people were very determined to be in the presence of the Master. Jesus did not turn them away and He did not blame them for coming. He had compassion on them and was ready to feed them and give them guidance. Jesus compared them to sheep that lacked a shepherd.
Sheep need to be guided in the right direction. They are not real smart animals. I am not indicating the people were unintelligent, but I am saying they wanted guidance, encouragement, friendship, and they wanted to feel they were important and someone cared for them.
Sometimes we get a feeling of loneliness. Sometimes we think we are not important to anyone. Sometimes we face circumstances that confuse us and we don’t know which way to turn, what to think, or what action to take. Sometimes we feel unloved. These are all human traits and none of us are immune to them.
Jesus made wonderful provisions for this multitude of people. He treated them like royalty. He looked upon them as honored guests who had arrived at a great festival. It did not make any difference to Jesus that they were in a desert with no conveniences or supplies. He had compassion on them and was ready to help them.
As Jesus taught the multitude with words of encouragement, compassion, and love, time slipped by. The people were eager to listen without looking at the clock. They were not interested in hoping the pastor would cut it short. They were hungry and thirsty for what Jesus had to say to them.
This was not the case of clock-watching that goes on in our services today. These people were not in a hurry to go to the beach, watch some athletic event, go to the local restaurant for lunch, or rush to the patio for coffee and doughnuts.
It appears that the disciples were the ones concerned about the time and about getting something to eat. His disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat” (vs. 35, 36).
We cannot condemn the disciples for making this suggestion. In their heart, I believe they thought they were doing the right thing. They cared for the people and it was in kindness and respect for the people the suggestion was made. By the same token, they were not showing disrespect for the Master.
Jesus answered the disciples with these words: “You give them something to eat” (v. 37).
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. Their response was, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” (v. 37).
This response was made without thinking. They opened their mouth without really listening to the deep inner meaning of the question. You and I do this quite often.
When we come up against a mountainous issue which we think is impossible to get over, we say it can’t be done or I can’t do it. When the waters of life seem to make us think we are going to drown in our troubles, we say there is no way out or there is no solution.
The disciples made this mistake. They jumped to conclusions. Immediately, a worldly view was taken. They did not consult the Master. They did not wait to see what His next move would be. They did not wait for instruction or direction.
The disciples had been with Jesus long enough to see some of the miraculous things He had already done. They were with Him when He cast out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:25). James and John were with Him when He healed Peter’s Mother-in-law (Mark 1:29).
The disciples were with Jesus when He showed compassion and cleansed the man of leprosy (Mark 1:41). They saw the compassion and the mercy He showed the paralytic as He said, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go to your house” (Mark 2:11).
These disciples saw what miraculous things Jesus did, but for some reason their heart must not have been in the right place at the moment Jesus told them to feed the 5,000. We know as much or more than the disciples about Jesus because we have His written Word and we still do not listen when we are faced with issues.
We, too, open our mouth without first consulting with Him in prayer and then we don’t wait for His response and if we do, we don’t listen carefully to what He tells us. We cannot cast any negative opinion toward the disciples because we are no better.
Jesus knew the disciples had brought five loaves and 2 fish. These items appeared to be little with so many people to be fed. This showed the disciples and it shows us that Jesus can take what little we have and do miraculous things. The disciples were about to learn that if they would give away what little they have all would be blessed. There is no such thing as a little bit in God’s sight.
“When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to haven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all” (v. 41).
When Jesus personally gave the blessing, He knew the Father would do the rest. The Father brought about the miracle and met the needs of the great multitude of people. Not a single one went away hungry. The tummy of each person present was filled. In addition, there were twelve baskets of food left over.
Conclusion:
God sent His Son into the world to take care of the needs of each of us. Jesus came to heal all of our hurts and to bind our wounds. He came to do something that we could not do for ourselves. He came to pay the sin penalty for all mankind.
He came to redeem us from our sinful nature. He came to make it possible for us to regain a right relationship with the Father. He came that we might spend eternity with Him in His Kingdom. He came out of love for us.
Jesus came because God looked out upon the multitude and was moved with compassion and mercy because He could see His sheep needed a Shepherd.
I close with this story:
“O, Let Him In!”
A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door or a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen, and when their small boy came in from school, he was very interested in it.
His mother was too busy with the dinner to answer his questions, but presently his father came in from work. “Who is the Man, daddy, and why is He knocking at the door?” the little fellow asked again and again. The father tried to ignore the question, but it was asked again and again with great persistence, and at last he replied that it was the Lord Jesus Christ knocking at a door. “Then why don’t they let Him in?” asked the little boy.
Dinner came just then, and the father managed to change the subject, but again and again during the days which followed the little lad asked the same question: “Why don’t they let Him in?”
The question began ringing in the father’s ears, until at last one day he fell on his knees and cried: “Lord Jesus, it’s the door of my heart at which You are knocking. Please forgive me for keeping You waiting so many years. The door is open – oh, come right in and take possession!”
-------------------Gospel Herald
The great Shepherd has enough compassion and love for all of His sheep if they will only listen as He calls them.
Amen.
