When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34
Several times in the Gospels we read that Jesus was moved with compassion. Compassion is not just feeling sorry or having pity, it goes beyond and actually alleviates the suffering. He often sacrificed His own comfort to meet the needs of the people.
Today’s verse shows us the insight Jesus had that looks beyond the immediate need to the cause of it. When He looked on the crowds with compassion, He saw confusion, instability, fear and being lost and lonely .That’s why He taught them, for those who would listen gave them the answers to many of their problems and life’s issues.
The Gospels tell us what those teachings are and just like when Jesus spoke them in person, He still speaks them today. And just like they applied to the people then, they still apply to us now. Many of His teachings were thought to be radical because they were the exact opposite of what was the natural ways to react.
But Jesus was not reactive, He was responsive, He didn’t react to situations, He responded and that response came from the heart of love from God Himself. How different might our responses be to situations and issues if we looked at them through the eyes of love and compassion? I’m sure if we did, more people would see who Jesus truly is and would want to accept them as their Savior and Lord.
Transformation thought: Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.
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