The Gift of Compassion

Here at Cornerstone, God is on the move! And as God moves and performs the miraculous, He expects His people to move also. But what causes God to move? Why does He interrupt our lives? We know that God is love, and therefore, love must be at the heart of every-thing He does. But what causes this divine love turn into positive and decisive action? And how does it manifest in order to meet the needs of God’s people? In the Gospels, we see Jesus (who is the exact and perfect representation of the Father) moved by compassion. I sincerely believe that such compassion is a divine attribute - a gift from God. It cannot be a natural human characteristic, for if it was, the world would be totally different - a far better place!

Furthermore, it would be presumptuous for you and I to think that we could be moved with compassion to the same degree that Jesus was. He is God, and His love for mankind is perfect, absolute and undefiled. However, in John 17:26 Jesus prays that this divine love be imparted into every believer (the great love that the Father has for His Son Jesus). Therefore, whenever the divine love that has been deposited in us is stirred, we are moved with “divine” compassion and the miraculous follows. Signs and wonders pursue true compassion!

So what is compassion? It’s origin is in ecclesiastical Latin from the word compati ‘to suffer with.’ The Oxford English Dictionary says, compassion is a feeling of pity inclining one to be helpful or show kindness. But pity can be immersed in humanism and it does not necessarily reflect any form of love. Therefore, the ecclesiastical Latin “to suffer with” is far more accurate. But not fully! So maybe we need to look beyond the English language to find an acceptable / Biblical definition of compassion. There are two Greek words often used in the New Testament and translated compassion.

[1] Splanchnizomai, “To be moved from within - as to one’s inwards, to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion,” is frequently recorded of Christ towards the multitude and towards individual sufferers, Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:27; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34; 8:2; 9:22 (of the appeal of a father for a demon-possessed son); Luke 7:13; 10:33; of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:20. But what stands out with the usage of this ancient Greek word is the fact that compassion is a unique quality that comes from “within” - an intense yearning or groaning from inside, or a strong inward feeling. Best described as an intense, high-wrought emotion that compels one to action. It has similar characteristics to “passion” but always results in the positive, never the negative.

[2] Sumpatheo, “To suffer with another (sun, ‘with,’ pascho, ‘to suffer’), to be affected similarly” (Eng., “sympathy”), to have “compassion” upon (Hebrew 10:34). It’s a sympathetic feeling for anyone suffering, distressed or unhappy. This meaning is in line with the ecclesiastical Latin word compati “to suffer with.” It is the ability to identify fully with the suffering of others, and through this emotion, to respond and do something helpful. You can liken it to “mercy” which is a clear demonstration of true kindness.

Notice, compassion (when used to God’s glory) is very powerful. It brings about positive action! Signs and wonders follow compassion! We see this clearly in the ministry of Jesus.

When He was moved with compassion miracles were performed and God was glorified. I believe that one of the answers to you and I becoming more effective for God’s kingdom is the gift of compassion. If every believer stirred up this gift the world would become a better place almost immediately! The power to change the world is in you!

In order to stir up this divine gift, let’s get inspired by some New Testament accounts of when Jesus was moved with compassion.

Matt. 9:35 - 38, And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Compassion let’s you see the need for the salvation of all those around you. And it causes you to reach out to them with a supernatural zeal and with total commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 14:14, “And Jesus went out and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.”

When you are moved with compassion for the sick, God’s miracle healing power will manifest and work through you. The sick will be healed and all infirmities will disappear (to God’s glory).

Matt.15.32, Then Jesus called his disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Compassion will cause you to see the essential needs of those around you and you will be moved (inspired) to show kindness. God’s interested in even the most basic necessities of mankind.

Matt. 20:29 - 34; As they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David.” And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David.” And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him; “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.”

There are people out there crying out for Jesus, and the only way they are going to encounter Him is through you.

Luke 7:11 - 15; And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with Him, and much people. Now when He came near to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and many people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her, “Weep not.” And He came and touched the boy: and they that carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, Arise.” And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother.”

Inside Jesus was an intense, high-wrought emotion that compelled Him to action, even the action of raising the dead. Nothing is impossible to anyone who believes, the only barrier is this, “Can you be moved into action?” With divine compassion you definitely can!

John 11:33-44; When Jesus saw Martha weeping, and the Jews also weeping that came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” And Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, Behold how He loved him! And some of them said, “Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself came to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Jesus had a unique quality that came from “within” - an intense yearning or groaning from the inside. Notice, the Lord desperately wanted His friend Lazarus to live, but He never allowed Himself to get into an emotional state. Rather, He responded by sympathising with the loss of a loved one (fully identifying with the family’s suffering), and then doing what only He could do! Boldly He said. “Take away the stone!”

Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time he stinks: for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you, that, if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You hear Me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that You have sent Me.” And when He had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”’ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

There are so many people out there who need to be loosed from their dreadful situations; their addictive behaviour and their chronic sufferings. But where is the man or woman of God that is constantly groaning in the spirit? Where is the man or woman who is prepared to say (by faith), “Take away the stone?”

The only thing that’s preventing them from receiving their miracle is the dividing wall between them and Jesus. But Jesus, through the Holy Spirit that is in you, yearns and groans constantly to set them free. He desires to perform the miracle they need through you. Yes, you are the chosen vessel of honour. All He requires now is for you to move into action! And what will move you better than anything else? The very same attribute that moved Him! Compassion!

Chris Demetriou, 22/10/2006