In the series where we examined the emotions Jesus Christ felt when He was on earth, limited to a time in history, a geographical place, and a human body that needed water, food and sleep, we found the emotion of compassion to be documented most often. We found 7 situations. Can you find more? We examined how He managed His emotions; and why His emotional experiences enable Him to understand everything you and I feel. He is our help in time of trouble.

Remember

Your emotions are God-given, you are entitled to them.

Your emotions are personal. No one can tell you how you should feel.

Your emotions must be managed or they will control you.

You are not responsible for someone else’s emotions.

In this session we examine Jesus feeling the emotion of compassion.

Definition

Compassion- a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Situation #1 context

This situation happened after the 12 returned from going about two by two and Jesus took them away in a boat. Mark 6:³⁴ And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Why do you think Jesus saw the people as sheep in need of a shepherd rather than seeing them as rebellious creatures?

A shepherd gives provision, protection, direction and correction. Why do people need those things?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

What has Jesus been teaching you lately?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #2 context

This situation happened right after the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting our devils through the prince of devils.

Matthew 9:³⁵ 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. ³⁶But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. ³⁷Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

What connection do you see between the people’s need for a shepherd and the request to pray the Lord of the Harvest for more laborers in His harvest?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #3 context

In this situation Jesus by the Sea of Galilee has just healed one who was deaf with a speech impediment and the people were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well.

Mark 8:¹In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, ²I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Do you think Jesus did not eat for three days?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

Why did Jesus call His disciples? Do you think He wanted their opinions? Was it testing?

Do you think the disciples noted that Jesus was concerned for the people’s hunger but did not express concern for their hunger?

Does Jesus sometimes focus your attention on someone else’s need for compassion?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #4 context

This situation occurred as Jesus left Jericho after declaring the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:³⁰ 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, thou Son of David. ³¹And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. ³²And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? ³³They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. ³⁴So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Why did Jesus ask the men what they wanted?

Is it important that they asked the Son of David for mercy?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

Is it important that Jesus touched them?

Do you notice the result was sight and immediately?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #5

Mark 1:⁴⁰And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ⁴¹And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. ⁴²And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

Is it important that Jesus touched him?

Do you notice the result was immediate?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #6

Mark 5:¹And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. ²And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, ³Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: ⁴Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. ⁵And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. ⁶But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, ⁷And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. ⁸For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. ⁹And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. ¹⁰And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. ¹¹Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. ¹²And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. ¹³And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. ¹⁴And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. ¹⁵And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. ¹⁶And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. ¹⁷And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. ¹⁸And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. ¹⁹Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

What triggered the emotion of compassion in Jesus?

Your emotions are personal. What emotions do you feel from this account?

How did Jesus respond to His emotion of compassion?

What does Jesus’ compassion and His response to that compassion mean to you?

Situation #7

Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh 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 much people of the city was with her. ¹³And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. ¹⁴And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. ¹⁵And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. ¹⁶And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

What about Jesus feeling the emotion of compassion qualifies Him to be our great High Priest?

Let’s look at the recorded description of our High Priest in Hebrews 4:¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is our great High Priest

Hebrews 4:¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Where is our great High Priest?  in Heaven, He passed to there

Who is our great High Priest? Jesus, the Son of God

What is special about our great High Priest?

He can be moved with the feeling of our infirmities

He was tempted like we are but did not sin!

Our High Priest sits on a throne of grace not judgement!

Our High Priest invites us to come boldly for grace and mercy

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve

Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve

Isn’t Jesus a great High Priest?

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run being yoked to Emmanuel!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when together you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti