The Compassionate Jesus
The Emotional Life of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Title: The Compassionate Jesus
Series: The Emotional Life of Christ
Text: Mark 6:30-44
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
What is compassion?
While compassion is rooted in love, they are not exactly the same thing. The bible uses a completely different word for compassion than any word used for love. It is possible to have love without exercising compassion because compassion is a deep feeling of pity that leads to an act of liberating the imprisoned, harassed or oppressed. [Compassion: pity, feel compassion, feeling that compels to action]
Love can be exercised towards someone who is not suffering but when the feeling and action is compelled by the stress of the recipient, it is called compassion (whether the recipient sees their own need or not).
Illustration: A mother responding to the rash of a baby, a athlete responding to an injured co-athlete, a co-worker diagnosed with cancer, a friend enduring a breakup, a teenager losing a parent…etc
A distinction with Jesus is that all of these examples given above pre-suppose a personal relationship. With Jesus, we see compassion for people who did not fully know or understand Him.
What’s the goal of the message?
To show the unparalleled compassion of Jesus; and, because of this compassion, to call people to know, trust, and be satisfied in His Person.
Why do you need this message?
At the heart of having this kind of compassion is Jesus - He is the key.
How is it that we can serve Jesus one moment but then lack the compassion of Jesus in the next?
Is it not that we have become accustomed to saying we love and acting in love towards lovely people but not being compassionate towards the those under stress?
The question today is not “Are you loving; but are you compassionate?”
What illustration helps people understand why this is needed?
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a series of books that have become known as The Lord of the Rings. As a prequel to the series, he wrote the story of a Hobbit (a short person who was on an unexpected adventure. His name is Bilbo Baggins, and he was on a team of 14 people. In one of the episodes, they encounter large black spiders. His friends are taken and spun into webs and hung from a rope…As Tolkien puts it, “Bilbo saw that the moment had come when he must do something.” [p. 158].
In many respects, this fictional character shows the compassion that the true Jesus showed and calls us to.
How will you accomplish this goal?
(1) Who is this compassionate Jesus?
(2) What does it mean to follow the compassionate Jesus?
(3) What should I believe/do because of the compassionate Jesus?
(1) Who is this compassionate Jesus? (Mark 6:30-34)
Compassionate Jesus is a Shepherd-King:
First, the compassionate Jesus is a king who sends forth messengers with power. (Mark 8:30).
Second, the compassionate Jesus is a king who cares for the well being of his messengers (Mark 8:31-32).
Kid’s Question: What does this tell us about God?
That God is compassionate and we see this compassion in Jesus, the Son who was sent.
Illustration: God did not send Robocop, iRobot, or a Cyborg. He sent the compassionate Jesus.
App: You are not worthless. [people who write-off people miss this]
Christians who remain in worm-theology often treat other human beings like worms.
Thirdly, As a Shepherd-King, Jesus’ compassion causes him to care for the lost sheep. He teaches them. (Mark 8:33-34).
App: Take pity for people who are desperate just like sheep who are being attacked by predators.
[Recent video of Monk being attacked - Nashville, TN]
If you find that you delight in the suffering of humanity, especially the suffering of brethren, you are to be pitied as the prisoner of an in-compassionate heart.
Illustration: The day after Bilbo Baggins delivers his friends from the spider webs, they encounter Wood-elves who imprison the team, except for Bilbo. Bilbo is once again called upon to deliver his friends.
The author Tolkien calls the chapter, “Barrels out of Bond” because of the way that the deliverance came about.
In many respects Bilbo is not only feeling something; but he is compelled to action. This is compassion.
The Jesus is the Shepherd-King who is compelled by compassion.
(2) What does it mean to follow the compassionate Jesus? (Mark 6:35-42)
It means to be tested by the compassionate Jesus.
(a) It means to be tested to reveal our distorted, blurry view of the compassionate Jesus.
Mark 6:35-36 - Though the disciples had done amazing things by the power Jesus gave them, in this account, they do not believe that Jesus can accomplish this miracle.
Mark 6:37 - Jesus’ compassion for the shepherd-less people has now led to a testing of the faith of the disciples. This testing reveals a blurry view.
Disciples present five problems: location, time, people, food supply, money - the plight of mankind (our sinfulness)
These accounts given by Mark are showing the hardness of the hearts of the followers of Jesus. Jesus is doing this to build, test, and strengthen the faith of those who follow him. (Mark 6:52).
App: It is the test given to busy people who need a deeper Christology. Busy people see the problem but they miss the Person. They see the circumstance but they miss the Christ. They see the situation but they miss the Savior.
Mark 6:34, if your understanding of Jesus allows you to skip the shepherd-ly teaching, then you’ve misunderstood what it means to follow Jesus.
Feeding the flock is a primary means through which compassion is exercised.
(b) It means to be able to participate in Jesus’ compassion ministry (v. 38-42)
Mark 6:38-40 Every command of Jesus to the disciples is an opportunity to participate in exercising faith.
Mark 6:41-44 True faith in Jesus, which is accompanied by obedience, preceded the work of Jesus.
App:
Redemptive/Historical:
Jesus is the Shepherd who leads and feeds. He causes his people to lie down in green pastures. He gives his people food in a desolate place.
To be a follower means that our faith in Jesus will be tested for obedience. Is the Lord really your Shepherd?
(3) What should I believe/do because of the compassionate Jesus?
(a) You should trust in the compassionate Jesus for your soul
Skeptic: Carefully consider that individuals who have location, money, food, followers, and time are by-in-large discontent. Why?
[Illustration: Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Elizabeth Holmes, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jason David Frank, Kevin Spacey, Ezra Miller, R. Kelly…etc
These are not exceptions; they are manifestations that mankind is desperate. Only the compassionate Jesus can satisfy the human soul.
Sheep-Lostness = Greatest Need
(I Peter 2:21-25). To be lost is to be without the Soul-Shepherd. It is like a sheep that is by itself, left to the elements and to predators.
Illustration: “What you don’t know can’t hurt you...” this is only true in certain instances…We should get worked up about lostness, eternity…etc
Know him by trusting Him. [receive full forgiveness]
Is your faith in the five things or in the compassionate Christ?
(b) You should speak of Jesus to others
Evangelistically, we must speak to people about the Compassionate Shepherd of Souls.
(c) You should compassion to be defined in two opposite ways: The Jesus Way or the Satanic Way.
Is the compassion of Jesus allowed to challenge the expectations you have from others/yourself?
Jesus’ compassion was never an affirmation of someone in sin.
When you are expecting someone to be compassionate, be sure that you are not unwittingly expecting them to make you feel good about you.
A compassionate person responds to your real need whether you recognize your need or not.
(d) You should examine your own compassion-giving records
Are you a compassion-giver?
The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
ONLY the compassionate Jesus can make you compassionate.
Ephesians 4:32 - tenderhearted (Col. 3:12, Philippians 2:1).
How can you give a compassion that you are not experiencing?
Concluding Statement:
To those who are hurting, downcast, or tempted to question the compassion of the Lord (esp. during holiday season). Remember Job and rejoice.
James 5:11 - merciful
Jesus entered into suffering that was far worse than that of Job’s, so that we might have assurance of eternal consolation.
Because Jesus is incomparably compassionate we must know, trust, and be satisfied in Him.
Illustration: The Hobbit Story - the Hobbit is first seen as worthless to the team. Next, he is seen as a burglar. Later he is seen as courageous…etc The story left you with great thoughts of a person not the treasure they were seeking.
So it is, that the compassion of Jesus should lead us to greater thoughts of Him and dependency upon Him to live this compassion out.