We can agree that Christ shows believers a compassionate heart. When God saved us through His grace (Ephesians 2:8), He embraced us with Jesus’s empathy. This undeniable reality opened our road to redemption.

Definition of Compassion

Here is a dictionary’s outlook on compassion.

1. A deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering.
2. The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it

These two descriptions of what compassion is, do fit with how Christ showed sympathy. Outside the “humane quality of understanding” (man’s interpretation), the meaning highlights the wisdom of compassion.

Jesus Incredible Compassion

Jesus does have a deep awareness of humanity’s suffering. Throughout His time on earth, His heart became overwhelmed with pity.

Apostle Mark shared:

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

Mark 6:34

In this scripture, we see Christ’s, compassionate heart. God delivered Jesus into the world to correct the spiritual errors of the Jews. Our Messiah felt moved to teach them God’s acceptable way of following Him.

We are fortunate to have the Bible because when Jesus walked on earth, those present knew only the Old Testament. They had half of God’s truth and Christ to share the Good News of the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). Then, the New Testament emerged through the Holy Spirit and after Jesus’s ascension.

Another excellent example of Christ’s compassionate heart came when he resurrected a dead son from a widowed mother.

Luke shared:

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.When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 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.”So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Luke 7:12-15

In these four scriptures, Luke recorded Christ’s tendered Spirit and resurrected the dead son from the coffin. Jesus’s compassionate miracle showed the witnesses of this powerful event His omnipotence. As a result of Christ’s supernatural action, the crowd became fearful and glorified God (Luke 7:16).

Those are only two of Jesus’s acts of compassion. Others are in the four Gospels.

God’s Empathetic Sacrifice

Here’s something we both can agree on God’s empathetic sacrifice is the most excellent example of compassion. Indeed, when our Father allowed His Son Jesus Christ to die, it showed humanity an unmatched act of compassion. Yes, the cross heightens the Lord’s sympathy towards sinners.

God never intended for His creation of humans to stay separated from Him. No, He made a way back for us to return to His grace (John 14:6). He even allowed Adam and Eve the ability to repent (Genesis 3:22). How incredible is that?

The significance of Christ’s death is the most remarkable demonstration of God’s unconditional love (John 3:16). It’s astonishing how the crucifixion of Jesus highlights our Father’s mercy for our souls. Apostle Paul reminds us of God’s special affection by sacrificing His Son for the forgiveness of sin (Romans 5:8). Disciple John showed us another impressive consciousness of Christ’s love; Jesus laid down His life for our salvation (John 15:13).    

In reality, my eternal destination rest on believing the Lord raised His Son from the dead (Romans 10:9). Without expressing my conviction about Jesus’s death, entry into God’s kingdom stays elusive.

My Experience

Before God saved me, my blindness to His compassion wasn’t possible. I lived a life filled with bitterness and full of disbelief. My agnosticism blocked me from His presence. And my powerlessness over sin led me to abuse alcohol and sexual misconduct. Besides those disobedient behaviors, pride, resentment, rage, and stealing were daily occurrences.

It brings me great joy to announce that God brought me out of spiritual darkness and into Christ’s marvelous light. Through God’s grace and faith in Jesus, I’m no longer living in the bondage of sin. The Lord showed me compassion by forgiveness and anointing my heart with the Holy Spirit. I’m grateful for His gift of salvation.

As shown above, Christ’s compassionate heart makes living worthwhile. The neat reality of His benevolence is that it’s ongoing. Since we still live in the flesh and, on occasion, sin, He won’t stop showing compassion. All we have to do to receive it is repent.

How do you experience Christ’s, compassionate heart?