Compassion in Action

The dictionary defines compassion as, "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress with a desire to alleviate it." This kind of compassion is not too rare in our world and in my own life. We are sympathetic to others in their distress, and would like to help, especially if it's convenient. But too often it stops right there. We might desire to help, but don't always take action.

For Jesus, compassion always led to action. We see an amazing example of this in Luke 7:11-17. Jesus and His disciples were approaching the city of Nain, when out came a funeral prossession. Verse 12 indicates, "a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow". In that era a woman with no husband and no sons was in a very desperate situation. Jesus knew this and felt compassion for her (verse 13), compassion that led to action. He raised the son back to life. What an amazing miracle! This woman was not seeking his help, there is no indication she even knew who Jesus was, or believed in him. Yet Jesus acted out of sheer and utter compassion. He didn't just feel sympathy, like I would. He didn't just desire to help, like I might. He took action.


We see many other examples of this in the gospels.


In Matthew 15:36 Jesus says, "I feel compassion for the multitude, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat...", and then he miraculously feeds the 4,000.


Matthew 20:29-34 tells of two blind men who cry out to Jesus for mercy. His response is in verse 34: And moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. The compassion of Jesus led to action.


Mark 6:34 records, And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them becasue they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. Jesus felt compassion that led to action, as he taught the people, telling them truth they needed to hear.




For Jesus, compassion was not just about feeling for hurting people. It was more than a desire to help. It was action. I pray that might be a growing reality in my life as well.