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Chapter 160

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THE CHARACTER OF JESUS:
Compassion

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Topic 50:   The Compassion of Jesus Christ. (Main Topic)

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Topic 52:   The Objects of Christ's Compassion.

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POINT 10:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the multitude who were distressed and scattered abroad as sheep not having a shepherd.

      Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

      Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

   What if Jesus were in Chicago? How does He feel towards the billion people in China? Contrast the Pharisees:

      John 7:48-49 [48] "Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law -- there is a curse on them."

   Which are we more like, Christ or the Pharisees?

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POINT 20:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the hungry multitude.

      Mark 8:2 I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

   Not only the spiritual destitution of men, but their physical need as well appealed to the compassion of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 30:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the multitude in general.

      Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

   When Jesus saw a crowd of men He was moved with compassion. His compassion on the multitude is mentioned five times. A crowd of men is a pitiful sight. It represents so much of sorrow, so much of pain, so much of sin. What is your feeling when you look out on a crowd? Judging by the context of this passage, the sick seem to have especially drawn out His compassion.

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POINT 40:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the blind.

      Matthew 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

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POINT 50:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the demonized, the victims of the power of unclean spirits.

      Mark 9:22, 25 [22] "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." [25] When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

   In the last case mentioned there was much in the man that was repulsive and hateful, but Jesus beheld him with compassion.

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POINT 60:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the leper.

      Mark 1:40-41 [40] A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." [41] Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

   The world, even the religious world of that day, met the leper with repulsion and disgust and scorn. Christ met him with compassion. The world drew away from him, Christ drew toward him.

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POINT 70:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the one bereaved of a loved one.

      Luke 7:12-13 [12] As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out -- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. [13] When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

   This is the only recorded case in which Jesus met a funeral procession, and we see what His feeling was toward the mourner. What is your feeling toward mourners? What is your feeling when you meet a funeral procession?

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POINT 80:   Jesus Christ had compassion on the sinful, the lost, the spiritually dead.

      Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

      Compare Luke 15:1-2 [1] Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

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POINT 90:   Jesus Christ had compassion on all men afflicted by any form of misfortune, or wretchedness, or degradation.

      Mark 3:5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

   Jesus Christ did not go about His work from a cold sense of duty, but His own heart drew Him out towards those He helped and saved. His deeds of mercy cost Him something more than the sacrifice of leisure and the expenditure of effort and power. They cost him heartaches. He made other men's sorrows His own sorrows, other men's agony His own agony, other men's sin and shame His own sin and shame. He could not look upon misery, pain, death or sin without heart pangs.

      John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

   Herein lay one great secret of His power. It is the misery that we make our own that we can comfort; it is the want that we make our own that we can fully satisfy; it is the sin we make our own that we can save another from.

      2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

   Real power to help men is a very expensive thing, but anyone can have it who is willing to pay the price. But the one who is not willing to give up lightness of heart, and take instead burden of heart over the world's sin and sorrow and shame, may as well give up the thought of being a helper, much less a savior of men. Men can not be saved by burning words, by mere bleeding hearts.

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Topic 54:   The way in which the compassion of Christ was manifested.

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POINT 10:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was not manifested in mere feelings or words, but in action, in self-sacrificing and persistent and thorough-going ministration to the needs of the one upon whom He had compassion.

      Luke 10:33-36 [33] But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. [34] He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. "Look after him," he said, "and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." [36] Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?

   In the final analysis, the good Samaritan is a picture of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 20:   The compassion of Jesus Christ toward the unshepherded was manifested in His patiently teaching them when He himself was weary and sore at heart.

      Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

   He taught before he fed. Why? In this manifestation of compassion there is abundant opportunity for us all to imitate. Get an unshepherded child of the street, if you can do no more.

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POINT 30:   The compassion of Jesus Christ toward the unshepherded was manifested in His healing the sick.

      Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

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POINT 40:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested in feeding the hungry.

      Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

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POINT 50:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested: (a) In standing still to listen to the cry of two blind beggars although He was on most important and urgent business. (b) In opening the eyes of the blind.

      Matthew 20:32-34 [32] Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. [33] "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." [34] Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

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POINT 60:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested in casting unclean spirits out of men.

      Mark 5:8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

      Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

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POINT 70:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested: (a) in putting forth His hand and touching the leper (For years the leper had not felt the touch of a clean and loving hand. That is what many a moral leper needs today, the touch of a clean and loving hand.) (b) In healing the leper.

      Mark 1:41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

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POINT 80:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifest: (a) In bidding the sorrowing to weep no more. (b) In restoring the departed to the bereaved.

      Luke 7:12-14 [12] As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out -- the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. [13] When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." [14] Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

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POINT 90:   The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifest in welcoming and pardoning the sinner and bidding her to go in peace.

      Luke 7:48, 50 [48] Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." [50] Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

   In all this let us remember:

      Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

      1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

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