Compassion Like Jesus
by Gary Johnson
We are nearing the end of 2025 with our focus to live like Jesus. Each month, we have focused on a trait in the life of Jesus, hoping to make 1 John 2:6 a reality in each of our lives, that if we claim to be Christians, we must live as Jesus lived. This month, we focus on the compassion and concern of Jesus.
Matthew wrote of Jesus, that “when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Out of concern for others, Jesus had compassion. The word “compassion” is used a bit more than a dozen times in the New Testament, and the majority of its uses are about Jesus.
The word compassion means “bowels” in Greek, or more commonly known to us as our “guts.” Hence, when Jesus saw hurting people around Him and at a distance, feelings came welling up from deep within Him – from His guts – and those feelings were of compassion. Is it possible for us to do the same? When we see broken, hurting people, are we able to have sincere concern and compassion for them as did Jesus? Are we capable of living like Jesus in this regard? We can if we will practice these three principles.
Principle #1: Sympathy is not the same as empathy.
When someone passes away, it is common for us to send a sympathy card or flowers, etc. Sympathy is an expression that we acknowledge someone’s loss. Yet, when we take food to this family, when we care for their house and yard during their grieving, etc., these actions are an expression of our empathy. Empathy is an expression of our compassion. We attempt to feel their loss, putting some of their hurt on our heart.
In John 11, Jesus was at the tomb of Lazarus. Mary fell at the feet of Jesus, sobbing in grief over the death of her brother. Moreover, the friends of Lazarus cried with her. When Jesus saw their grief, He wept. Jesus put their hurt on His heart. He felt what they were feeling at that moment. When we attempt to understand the pain and suffering of others, we have every greater likelihood of living like Jesus with concern and compassion for others.
Principle #2: How I think determines how I live.
If I think often or only about myself, I will live for myself and not for others. If I am focused on “me, myself and I,” I will have little or no focus on others and what they are experiencing. Think of it this way. I have myopia, which is more commonly known as nearsightedness. I can see things up close without any difficulty, but to see objects that are further away, I need to wear my glasses.
All too often, I struggle with spiritual myopia. This is a condition of being nearsighted, looking at life as it matters only to me. Life is about my wants and needs, about my problems and challenges, about my joy and happiness. Paul said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Do not look only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).
Jesus continually thought about – and addressed – the needs of others. He had compassion for the widow of Nain and raised her son from the dead (Luke 7:11-17). Jesus was concerned about the hunger of 5,000 men plus women and children and then fed them miraculously (Matt 14:13-21). Jesus was concerned for spiritually lost men and women and then died for them on a cross, suffering the rage and wrath of God (Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10). How we think determines how we live – with, or without, compassion and concern for others.
Principle #3: I cannot give what I do not have.
If I do not live in the love of God, I cannot give what I do not have. When you and I struggle with being loved by God, we will struggle in loving others. Hence, we will need God’s strength to live like Jesus with concern and compassion for others.
In Acts 10:38, Peter described the ministry of Jesus. He told Cornelius’ household that “you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.” Think about that. Jesus went around doing good. He went from place to place having compassion on broken people, and He did so in the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I was immersed, I received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). God has lived in me since January 1978 and has never left me. In HIS strength alone am I able to live like Jesus in having both compassion and concern for others. Jesus said that the greatest command for me (and you) is to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Also, the second greatest command is to love my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:30-31). Known as the royal commandments, love is a clear indication of my spiritual maturity or immaturity. In the indwelling Spirit’s strength, I am able to love well and often, showing both compassion and concern of Christ for those around me.
In our living room, I walk past the wedding pictures of different people in our family, many of whom have passed away and are “home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8). When I look at my mom and dad’s picture, I bear a striking resemblance to my dad in my wedding picture; and when I look at my son, Aaron, in his wedding picture, he bears a striking resemblance to me and to my dad.
From the deepest place within me, I love my family and more than anything, I long for each of us to bear a striking resemblance to Jesus in the way that we live.
