The Compassion of Jesus (Matthew 9:35-38)

by Pastor Cesar Crisostomo |  October 28, 2018
Matthew 9:35-38
As we read in the scriptures, Jesus was constantly “moved with compassion for the helpless, the sick, those who are suffering (Matthew 9:35-38; 15:29-32; 20:29-34; Mark 1:40-42; Luke 7:11-16) and for those who are lost and going to their eternal death (John 3:16-17; Luke 15:20; 1 John 4:9-10). As a disciple of Christ, you and I need to understand that the “compassion of Jesus” is a vital ingredient we need to have in our heart. It is the “compassion of Jesus” once embraced into our hearts will lead us to go share the Gospel (Matthew 28:16-20), to be prayerful and to meet the needs of people (Galatians 6:9-10; Romans 12:3-21).
Do we have the “compassion of Jesus”? I think there are tendencies where our compassion for others declines and therefore, the need to be renewed and filled up again with His love. We need to constantly ask Jesus to give us His compassion for the lost, the sick, the helpless and to stir up in our hearts an urgency to help people in need and to see the lost not forcefully but lovingly called into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The compassion of Jesus.
  • Jesus was moved with compassion by the condition of the people and had deep concern for them. The people were distressed, had no guidance, harassed, beaten down by life both physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually by diseases, sickness and by the day to day challenges of life. The people were scattered and helpless like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36; 1 Kings 22:17). And not that they didn’t have any rulers and leaders, but the rulers and leaders neglected them (Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:1-6).
  • Jesus’ compassion for people moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, made the lame to walk and the blind to see, casted demons out, taught and preached the good news of the kingdom and forgave people their sins (Isaiah 61:1-3; John 3:16-17).
  • Jesus’ compassion moved Him to prayer. Not only did Jesus spend time in prayer for the lost sheep of Israel, for His disciples and for all believers (John 17:6-26; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1), but He also instructed His disciples to pray (Matthew 9:38). Is the compassion of Jesus moving us to pray and labor for souls?
  • Jesus’ compassion moved Him to call out and commission His disciples to go and do as He did (Matthew 10:1; 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-12; John 14:12; Matthew 25:35-43).
People matter to God and they must also matter to us as Believers. We need to ask God to give us the “compassion of Jesus” for the lost and the needy. We need to ask God to stir up in our hearts a passion to serve and an urgency to pray. We need to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field that includes us. Will you be willing to pray for reaching the lost and serving the needy for Jesus Christ? Will you be willing to pray, to give and to go? Familia, there is a continual call of God for us to prayer and to action. We need to ask Him to show us how to pray and how to move into action within our community. I believe that as we pray and move into action together united in Christ, we will see healing and restoration in our islands.