This is the third of seven core characteristics of Jesus we’ve been called to imitate and thus disciple our kids toward using the ACT Bible Study Method. Learn more about this family discipleship method here.
TLDR: Compassion is having a deep concern for people that prompts us to act. This is what we saw in the ministry of Jesus, and it’s what we are to teach our kids to live like each day.
There’s never a good time to get bad news. It was no different for Jesus. In the midst of a hectic season of ministry, Jesus received word that John was dead (Matt. 14:1–12). John the Baptist was Jesus’ forerunner—the prophet chosen to prepare the way for Christ’s arrival (see Mal. 3:1). Luke tells us that the mothers of Jesus and John were relatives, so that means they were too. We also see their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, meeting together when they were both pregnant, so it isn’t a stretch to wonder if Jesus and John knew each other growing up. In any case, we know John baptized Jesus and some of Jesus’ disciples had first been John’s disciples. Basically, what I’m getting at here is that John had an important role to play in Jesus’ ministry and they could have been reasonably close.
But then John got into trouble for taking a stand against King Herod marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias. Herod would have loved to put John to death, but he didn’t because he was afraid of what the people would do. The people may have seen John as somewhat odd, but they liked him. Then one day, Herod promised to give Herodias’ daughter anything she wanted, and she asked for John’s head on a platter. Herod had to oblige, and thus John was put to death.
Picture the moment. Jesus has just been told that John is dead. His relative, his forerunner, and perhaps his friend had been executed. We need to resist the urge to paint Jesus as an emotionless stoic. This grieved him. Perhaps greatly. And it surely would have grieved Jesus’ disciples who had been John’s disciples. It also would likely have worried all the disciples. If John wasn’t safe, what made Jesus safe? And if Jesus wasn’t safe, what made them safe?
Caring While Grieving
So, what did Jesus do? Matthew tells us:
Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place.
Matthew 4:13 (NET)
It’s understandable, isn’t it? Jesus wanted some time to get away and process John’s death. But Mark gives us another important detail:
[Jesus] said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat).
Mark 6:31
If the news about John wasn’t enough, Jesus and the disciples were already worn out. They were tired. They were hungry. Jesus needed to get away and the disciples needed it, too. We can pause here and notice Jesus’ first act of compassion. Even in the middle of his grief, Jesus still thought of others. He still cared for his disciples and wanted what was best for them. And he acted accordingly.
Serving While Grieving
The crowds, however, didn’t permit Jesus and his disciples to rest for long—actually, Jesus and the disciples didn’t even make it to shore to begin resting. Undeterred (and unable to take a hint), the crowd chased after them on foot. I’m an introvert. I don’t like being disturbed in the normal rhythm of life. I can’t imagine what I would have done if I were Jesus in this instance. File this away as reason 26,345,234 why it’s a good thing that I’m not God.1
But when Jesus got off the boat and saw this persistent, needy crowd, he didn’t respond with indignation, frustration, or resignation. Instead, look at what happened:
As he got out and saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 14:14 (NET, emphasis mine)
He had compassion. Even amid his own distress, he had compassion. Here, we see Jesus set aside his own needs and concerns and feel compassion for the crowds that led him to do something. He healed the sick (Matt. 14:14). And he didn’t do this grudgingly—Luke records that he “welcomed” them (Luke 9:11). That isn’t all he did. Mark noted that Jesus’ saw that the people “were like sheep without a shepherd” so he taught them (Mark 6:34). And then, later he fed them.
Jesus met the physical needs of people because he cared deeply about them, and we should, too. And he didn’t just meet these needs when it was convenient. Neither should we. Compassion cannot be scheduled. We need to help our kids know this. No one in need is ever a disruption. Our acts of compassion can never be done grudgingly. They are to always be done joyfully.
NEXT: The Generosity of Jesus
- And those are just the reasons this month. ↩︎
brian dembowczyk 