Moved With Compassion

May 20, 2021

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

~Matthew 14:13‭-‬14~

Jesus went away to be alone with the Father. He had just received the news that John the Baptist had been beheaded. You can only imagine the grief He began to feel, the sadness gripping His heart. He went away to be alone with God immediately. This is a major step Jesus was always sure to take. No matter how he felt or what He was in the midst of He would always go straight to the Father first to relieve His feelings. Do we find ourselves going to God first, no matter how busy we may be? We can follow this perfect example of relationship with God above all.

"I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me." (Psalms 57:2)

John played an important role in Jesus' life on earth and now he was gone. I am sure Jesus knew it was coming but even when He knew of things to come His heart would never change. He loved and He hated evil; what had just happened to John was purely evil. Again, Jesus knew yet still went away to be alone. He knew that Lazarus would die and still he wept; "And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept." (John 11:34‭-‬35)

He knew that He would be arrested and crucified and He felt sorrowful; "And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. ”

(Mark 14:36)

He knew that Peter would deny Him three times yet still felt a deep sadness for the fear which had gripped his good friend; "A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept." (Mark 14:72)

Even as Jesus was sure of things, He was moved with compassion. Even as He was in the midst of being alone thinking of John's death and praying to the Father, He was followed by a multitude of people. He could of told them all to wait a while. He could of asked them to go away and come back later. He specifically did the opposite. He was moved with compassion for them and set aside His own emotions to minister to His people for healing. His heart was so pure and so full of love that something as tragic as mourning His loved one who was killed could not stop Him from furthering His ministry. Is there something emotionally holding us back? Is there a tragedy causing us to pause and push others away? Jesus wants us to go straight to Him just as He did the Father and He will supply the needed strength to endure through these times.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

When we hit a rough patch in the midst of our ministry, Jesus shows us exactly who to run to first. Putting on the mind of Christ and conforming to His image each day will bring us to the fullness of His love that we will be moved with compassion immediately for someone else who needs our assistance. The love of God that fills each spot of our own body, mind and soul will make it impossible to turn anyone away just because we are dealing with something hard.

"But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (I John 3:17)

Unfortunately, we live in a world full of cruelty and evil, however Jesus overcame the world in love. We can too! If there is one thing that should move us to act in what the Lord needs from us, it should be His own love for us. We should strive for Jesus' compassion. When we can look at someone else we don't even know, set aside our own problems and serve them; we know that Christ is working deep within us. Jesus Christ is such a selfless being and He calls us to take on this mindset.

"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." (I Corinthians 2:16)

The Lord offered Himself completely as a servant. His work, His desires and His compassion can dwell more within us each day until all we want to do is put others first above our own situations; "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

(Philippians 2:4)

The Lord wants us to grieve, to mourn and to heal immediatly with Him. He also wants to use it as an opportunity to lift up compassion for others, for we cannot do it in our own flesh. If we did, we would send everyone away and just want to be alone. Ive tried that and it only grew me to more heaviness. Let us go to God and not forget that our own tragic circumstances do not have to control us. Christ will fill our vessels with His riches and glory. We will begin to see as He sees and feel as He feels the closer we abide in Him each day and trust that every problem we have we can run straight to Jesus first, just as He did with the Father.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God."

(II Corinthians 3:5)

Prayer:

Father God, I am thankful for Your compassionate heart. If not for You I would never understand what it is to love others above all else. Help me to always run to You first in any time of trouble or time of praise. You are my shining light in all times. Show me how to be the same compassionate servant that You were as You walked this earth in flesh. I pray for anyone who may be suffering in tragic circumstances now and I hope to be useful each day I live to glorify Your Name and bring others joy as they feel God's touch upon them. I declare today to be a blessed day and full of the Lord's love in me. In His precious Name I pray, Jesus Christ. Amen.