When [Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34, ESV)Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus had compassion. That God himself would have compassion on human beings is a radical statement. The Greek gods, the Roman gods, didn’t have compassion. Human beings, they say, were created for their amusement. Those gods took advantage, taunted, deceived and belittled people. But the true God has compassion. Jesus, God himself in human flesh, has compassion.
The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, literally bleeds compassion. He does more than feed the people, although he did that, he feeds them with the Good News. Jesus immediate reaction to this compassion is to teach.
[Jesus] began to teach them many things.
Like Mary sitting at Jesus feet, listening to his teaching. Despite Martha’s insistence that she should be helping take care of all their guests, Jesus says what is important.
Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:42b, ESV)That is Jesus having compassion. Repeatedly we see his compassion.
The word compassion in Greek is σπλαγχνίζομαι. It is onomatopoeia. That means it sounds like what it means. Splunk. You have heard of spelunking? It is cave exploring. You go deep into the bowels of the earth (something I would never do!). The word itself has to do with the bowels. When pagans would make an offering, they would splat the internal organs on the altar for sacrifice. splunk. The word speaks to the place Jesus’ compassion is found. Deep seated. Down in his bowels. It is compassion that led to great action. This compassion led Jesus to the cross. That is a picture of real compassion. Jesus’ shed his blood, for the sake of those on whom he had compassion. It shows his σπλαγχνίζομαι goes way beyond daily bread. Jesus’ compassion is about the forgiveness of sins. The cross was the only way for that to be accomplished. He teaches sinners about their sin and how he will accomplish forgiveness. He puts his compassion to practice as he takes the place of sinners on the cross. He suffers the pain and humiliation of a the very public spectacle of crucifixion (Despite the pictures of it, Jesus was likely total nude on the cross). He suffers the dreadful punishment of sinners. And it is not only physical torment; he suffers hell for sinners. He dies the death of sinners. Jesus, God and man, dies for sinners. Jesus is buried in the grave of sinners.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, ESV)That is σπλαγχνίζομαι.
Jesus loves people. He created us as complete human beings. He understands our needs and wants, he created them, after all. But it is deeper than that. He became a human. He was hungry, he was thirsty, he cried, and he laughed. The world, corrupted by sin, fell on him full force. The gods of the old world sometimes appeared as human, but not like Jesus. He was human, completely and fully. Just think a little bit about what that really means. Jesus had compassion, σπλαγχνίζομαι, for people in dire straits. He saw suffering from illness, hunger, poverty, mistreatment, loneliness, directionlessness, depression, anger, hate, murder, plagued by demons, and facing death. Compassion was his response. It is the same as you feel when you see these things, only more. Because he was not only a man, but also God, he had God’s compassion. And God’s compassion always leads to action. Jesus healed, cast out demons, feed people, fought back against injustice, and even raised the dead. Jesus is God doing his proper work. That is, setting things back in order, curing the real problem for human beings, sin, death and hell. Compassion would have it no other way.
So, the question comes up, “If Jesus was so full of σπλαγχνίζομαι, why didn’t he just heal everyone, why didn’t he cure all the lepers, why didn’t he raise all the dead?” After all the people he did miracles for were only a handful of humanity. It is a great question. Why God, did I have to suffer through a divorce? Why did my parents die from cancer? You have similar questions of your own. The answer is: I don’t know. What I know is faulty, corrupted by sin, and self-centered. But God is driven by love and compassion. God has complete and perfect knowledge. God is never self-centered. You see that clearly in Jesus.
For our sake [the Father] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)
And being found in human form, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8, ESV)We have all played the game, “If I was God for a day.” Well, thank God, I’m not God. By the way, I thank God that you are not God, too. He does all things perfectly. That means when we suffer all the things that living in a world broken by sin, we can be assured that God only allows all those things to happen for our benefit, our perfect benefit, that is. After all he says in his Word,
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)“All things” that means the death of loved ones, illness, anything that happens to you for “for good”.
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19, ESV)Faith is the call to believe despite what it looks like and the heart ache it causes. That doesn’t mean we understand why, it only means we put our trust in Jesus knowing that he is faithful and full of compassion, σπλαγχνίζομαι. What better place to place your trust in the One who has shown himself faithful. He went to the cross to save you from sin, death and hell, will he not be faithful in all things?
And, even more. Although Jesus didn’t heal everyone, although he didn’t raise everyone from death, he will. It is what we mean when we confess the creed, “The resurrection of the body”. That is where God’s compassion comes full circle.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:18–25, ESV)Just think about the “glory to be revealed to us.” That means we’ll see the reason for everything that has happened to us. How everything worked together for our good, that is, toward our salvation. Even the smallest thing we thought was terrible will have had the purpose of bringing us to be with Jesus forever. Not to mention all the good things. It will be the biggest “ah ha” moment of all time. The God who has σπλαγχνίζομαι will be responsible for all of it.
Well, for now, it isn’t easy to experience all these troubles in our lives. We will often plead God for a different outcome. There will be many times when we don’t see any possible good from them. There will be many times when we struggle to be at peace. It is specifically those times when God calls us to lean on him, the God of σπλαγχνίζομαι, compassion. Jesus has complete understanding of what it means to be human, to suffer as humans do.
And it isn’t only that. Human compassion is a good thing. We are compassionate towards one another. How comforting it is to have a friend hold your hand when you are suffering. And many people are even very good at showing compassion. As good as it is, as necessary as it is, God’s compassion in Jesus is very different. Jesus shows compassion that has a faint reflection in the compassion of people. But his is perfect. That’s easy to say, but what do I mean? Jesus compassion is perfect because it is founded in a promise. That promise is that our suffering will come to an end. It is the promise of the resurrection. Jesus died on the cross was buried and will come again. He comes to put all suffering to an end. That is what his σπλαγχνίζομαι is, a compassion that says, it is only for a little while.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
That’s what forgiveness is, a promise of the redemption of our bodies, healing, life from death, no more suffering, no more pain. We as the chosen people of God, will live again in these physical bodies, as pinchable as your flesh is now. And then, it will be without what we constantly know, suffering, pain and sorrow. It is so pervasive that our physical experience can’t comprehend what that really means. But this is what I do know.For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8)We can only imagine what the joy of our redeemed bodies will be like, and that will fall well short of reality.
Jesus shows σπλαγχνίζομαι, compassion. It is a real, tangible thing. Suffering for a purpose is countered by compassion. We are not left alone to suffer. He gives gifts through his church that give us comfort and strength, in faith, to stand. And Jesus’ compassion is available. You know the time and place. You know your brothers and sisters in Christ who act, in the Holy Spirit, on Jesus’ behalf. You hear God’s comforting words of the Gospel. You open your mouth and receive the One Who Has Compassion. You are bathed in the promises of God at the font. It isn’t complicated. It is found in everyday ordinary things. No visions necessary. No complicated prayers necessary (Just think about the Lord’s Prayer, how simple it is). A hug of support from a brother or sister in Christ. You sit and open your ears. You stand (kneel in the future) and take Jesus’ compassion through an open mouth. You remember your baptism, even though you might not actually remember it, where God adopted you.
That is σπλαγχνίζομαι. It is found fully in Jesus Christ, in his cross, in Holy Bapism, in fellow Christians, in his Word, and water and wine. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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