By Terry Clark
As a young boy, I recall a waitress in a restaurant who was struggling to serve our family. The whole dining experience was not good. My grandfather left a very generous tip for the waitress, because he looked past the myriad of mistakes and had compassion for her.
Jesus Christ demonstrated his love and compassion for many:
Jesus was moved with compassion upon seeing the multitudes, “because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-38).
Jesus was moved with compassion upon seeing the great multitude that followed him to a deserted place; He healed their sick and fed over 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21).
Jesus had compassion on the multitudes that traveled with Him for three days without eating; He fed over 4,000 people (Matthew 15:32-39).
Jesus had compassion and restored the sight of two blind men (Matthew 20:29-34).
Jesus was moved with compassion and cleansed a leper (Mark 1:40-42).
Jesus had compassion and healed a demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1-20).
Jesus had compassion on the widow of Nain whose only son died; He raised the young man from the dead (Luke 7:11-17).
Jesus showed compassion when Lazarus died, though he would raise Lazarus from the dead. Upon seeing Mary weeping “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled”, and He wept (John 11:32-36).
Our theme this year is to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (I Peter 3:8-12).