Compassion

Matthew 15:29-39

Compassion. Greek: “Splagchnizomai!”

It means ‘to be deeply moved, to be filled with compassion.’ It literally means “to be moved right inside your intestines.” “Gut-wrenching.” 

Jesus’ compassion, or “splagchnizomai” is shown in three areas.

Number 1. Jesus is moved when He sees the spiritual lostness of the crowds. What did Jesus see when He saw these people? He saw them as people in deep, deep need. This is a challenge to us when we think about our attitudes when we see people in a crowd. Do we have compassion for individual people in the crowd, who all have various needs?

Number 2. Jesus is moved when He sees the pain and the hunger of the crowds. He wants to meet them in a practical way because He has unending pity and compassion, and that speaks to me about the importance of being practical in our ministry and mission. The importance of praying for people. The importance of an encouraging text or phone call, or a meal handed in to a family who is going through a difficult time.

Number 3. Jesus feels compassion when He sees others in their deep loss.

Luke 7:13 Jesus sees a widow whose son has just died. He says, “I’m concerned about you in your loss and your sorrow.” Some of you may be approaching the anniversary of a loved one you’ve lost. You never lose that pain, but at certain times the hurt and the pain come back strongly. It is so good to know that Jesus is being “gut-wrenched” by your situation. He feels deeply for you. Right now, He is praying for you (Romans 8:34).

Here are three parables in which Jesus illustrates splagchnizomai

The Good Samaritan, in Luke 10:30-35. The Samaritan is moved on the inside- a gut-wrenching feeling of compassion, and that makes him take action, even though there is a risk of danger to himself, and a cost to himself when he pays for the man to be looked after. So often we want to stay in our comfort zone, and not to feel the pain that the other person is feeling. It’s a challenge!

The Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-24. 

The father runs to meet his son. He has a gut-wrenching feeling of love and compassion for his son, and that results in his actions of throwing open his arms and hugging him. That reassures me. Maybe we have family members whom we are worried about, whom the Father is waiting to welcome back home. Just like the Father never gives up waiting, we never give up praying and loving.

The parable of the unforgiving servant.  Matthew 18:23-34.

God has forgiven us so much. We don’t deserve His mercy. But God is deeply moved, and deeply compassionate when He looks at us. And we have to take this out into the world where we live and work and interact each day, and live out the Lord’s Prayer: “Lord, forgive my debt, as I forgive others.”

Let’s give thanks that we have a God who is deeply moved by our situations, whatever situations we are in. That happens here at Drury Presbyterian Church. The fellowship here is characterised by that deep concern for each other, that deep compassion; in the time of prayer each week, and in the time of sharing over a cup of tea after the service. 

So may we continue to be deeply concerned about the things that matter.