Saturday, October 8

Moved with compassion

Scripture: Ezekiel 9-10, Matthew 20

Matthew 20:32–34  Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

33 “Lord,” they said to him, “open our eyes.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.

Observation

Jesus had just announced for the third time that He was going to die in Jerusalem. As He left Jericho for the final time, two blind men called for help. Jesus stopped—I’m always moved by this. On His way to do the most important thing in history, on His way to give His life for all of us, Jesus stopped at the call of two blind beggars. 

And Matthew adds, “moved with compassion,” Jesus touched their eyes and healed them. It’s a powerful word in Greek: splanchnizomai which comes from splanchna which is the word for our internal organs. The idea is that you feel compassion deep in your gut. You are moved with compassion.

This word is often used of Jesus and by Jesus. See Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:27; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34; 8:2; 9:22; Luke 7:13; 10:33; 15:20.

Jesus wasn’t just doing miracles to make a point, to prove He was Messiah, but He was acting from deep and genuine compassion for others. 

Application

Sometimes I have compassion, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I suffer from “compassion fatigue.” I have spent my compassion and find it hard to care.

But Jesus was in a place where He could have easily claimed compassion fatigue—He had a lot on His mind and could have easily been pre-occupied and distracted. Instead, He was fully present and compassionate.

I think of the time Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded and He tried to get away, be alone and grieve. Instead the crowds followed Him, and when He arrived and saw the crowds, rather than being annoyed, Jesus was moved with compassion, healed their sick, taught them and fed them!

I want to be more like Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, give me Your heart, Your deep reservoirs of compassion. Help me to remember that You feel that way for me…and for each person I’m with. Then help me to feel what You feel.