CHRISTIAN “LOVE” AND “COMPASSION”

Christian love is a love of another kind. It loves the unlovable, forgives the unforgivable, and cares for the utterly unworthy of all. The love that the Bible talks about is one of the virtues of God. It most certainly is not, a human trait. The word “LOVE” is translated from the Greek word, Agape – which means, as I gather – “an unconditional and self-sacrificing love for the upliftment and the redemption of those in need, even if they are utterly undeserving.”

The agape love is born out of compassion. Compassion is again a virtue of God, and man does not even come close to it. The Latin root of compassion means “to suffer with.” Thus, compassion is the ability of someone to experience the pain, the agony, and the suffering, of another person, and the willingness to empathise with the pain and the suffering of our fellow humans, that moves proactively to do something about the situation. The parable of the Good Samaritan, is a case in point.

The LORD Jesus Christ, is the epitome of divine love and compassion.
– Jesus chose to sit with sinners and tax collectors, and have meals and discussions with the social outcasts.
– Jesus chose not to stone the woman caught in adultery, even though He was the only one who could do so.

What does it speak about Jesus?
– It tells us that He chooses to see beyond what is obvious.
– He sees the hearts of the people.
– He sees their crushing spirits.
– He sees their agonising hearts.
– Even though their outward appearances were as black as one can get, and as ugly as one could possibly be, and as stinking foul, as one could smell, Jesus sees beyond the obvious.
– Jesus sees our hearts and all its honest and sincere struggles.

Let us read these words from the Gospels, where we find Jesus being moved with love and comoassion…
I-JESUS Heals a Leper
– “41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” – Mark 1:41
II-JESUS Heals Two Blind Men
– “34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” – Matthew 20:34
III-JESUS and the Five Thousand
– “34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” “…and healed their sick.” – Mark 6:34; Matthew 14:14
IV-JESUS Raises the Dead Son of an Old Widow
– “12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.” – Luke 7:12-15
V-JESUS’ Compassion
– “35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” – Matthew 9:35-36

Jesus chose to be loving, compassionate and kind with the fallen people. How about us? Do we have a heart like Jesus? Are we moved to tears when we see someone in pain and agony? Do we see suffering people as “us” and “them” – to show our love and compassion? Would we be willing to walk the path of our LORD, in a world filled with cold and vengeful hate, revenge and merciless killing? May the LORD grant us the grace to have a tender, loving and compassionate heart, just like our LORD Jesus. Isn’t that what being a Christian is all about? Is it not? Even so the LORD help us.