The Merriam-Webster dictionary states: compassion is a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc. Many hurting people I have spoken with over the years don’t know Jesus as the God of compassion. They believe He really doesn’t care about the pain and struggles they are going through…He just wants them to straighten up and do right. This is so far from the truth! When Jesus felt compassion, pity, and sympathy toward people, an act of kindness always followed. Jesus’ actions were at all times motivated by pure love. He had pity on the crowd in need of wisdom, and taught them truth… He also felt sympathy for the sick, and brought healing. Today, He still has compassion on us and desires to meet us at our point of need. He wants to help us not hurt us… heal us not destroy us… lift us up not beat us up! Jesus longs for us to know who He really is… a God with compassion, pity, and deep sympathy toward His children. Jesus understands the struggles of living in this world, and He wants to help us increasingly experience His great, compassionate love on our earthly journey. As He pours His spirit of compassion into our open hearts, we will then be able to show a purity of compassion to a world in need.

“As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things” (Mark6:34).

“When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion [pity and deep sympathy] for them and cured their sick” (Matthew 14:14).