Matthew 14:13-21
Have you ever felt such compassion for someone that you could not ignore their
pain?
One thing we know for sure is that Jesus is the ultimate example of compassion. Not
only was this the posture of His heart but He was also tender in His approach.
In Matthew 14, we see how Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand people by
supernaturally multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish. Please note that that
number only reflects the number of men that were fed. This is not including the amount
of women and children that were present. Some theologians believe that it could have
been more than 15,000 people that were fed!
This moment reveals Jesus’s power. He is the God who has the ability to supply all of
our needs. He can take what we consider “little” and multiply it. That is the God that we
serve!
Another thing that stands out is His compassion. Matthew 14:14 ESV says, “When
[Jesus] went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed
their sick.”
The word “compassion” refers to a deep, heartfelt empathy that moves a person to take
action to relieve the suffering of others. Compassion looks beyond the reason why a
person ended up in their condition, but seeks to reveal the love of God in a tender way
as they deal with their needs. What makes this more amazing, is that the multitude
consisted of not just the faithful, but also the unfaithful. There were people who loved
God and people who did not. People who were Jewish like him, and people who were of
different ethnic heritage. People who were affluent as well as the marginalized and the
socially outcast.
Jesus could have looked on the people in judgement and harsh critique, but instead He
responded compassionately by healing their sick and feeding them.
When it comes to family or friends, it can be easy to show compassion. You may have
given someone the shirt off of your back or your last $20 in your wallet to your friend.
But, how do you show compassion to people who are different from you—those
who may think, live, or believe differently? What about an enemy?
Today, compassion is missing from many of our churches. It's missing from our pulpits
as many preachers harshly rebuke their congregations, without the balance of bringing
restoration. It’s missing from many small groups as we separate and refuse to unify with
other Christians because they disagree on secondary doctrinal matters. Most of all, its
missing from the hearts of many believers today as they look upon the lost or the
“growing” Christian in judgement, because they “don’t have it all together.”
What if that was Jesus’s heart toward us? The answer is simple: We would still be
lost in darkness.
But God is so in love with you.
What is our goal? It is to be more like Jesus.
As we fast and pray, our goal is not to complete a religious duty but to become more life
Jesus. Fasting and prayer grants us an opportunity to be emptied of self-righteous
pride, positioning us to receive a heart of humility. Only the humble hearted can walk in
compassion.
We grow in compassion as we recognize our own need for grace. It is the recognition
that everything good that we have received is a result of Jesus’s compassion for us.
The Gospel is actually a result of God’s compassion on the world. Romans 5:8 ESV
says, that “...God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us." Praise God! Likewise, just as Christ had compassion on us, we must have
a lifestyle of compassion. Not just for those we enjoy being around, but also for those
that challenge us, hurt us, or are hard to love.
What is the impact of compassion? Supernatural transformation.
Jesus' compassion often paved the way for miracles. Not only did it ignite
transformation, but it also ignited revival. To name a few, In Matthew 20:29-34,
Jesus restores the sight of two blind men after he had “pity.” In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus
moved with compassion, reached out and touched a person who had leprosy and they
were healed. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus raises a widow’s only son from the dead, showing
compassion for her grief. These examples all show a compassionate God, who touched
the untouchable. This resulted in the transformation of spirit and the revival of a region,
as the recipient went out to declare the goodness of God. The impact of God’s
compassion is incalculable!
Let’s make a decision to see people as God sees them.
Engagement: Take a moment to reflect on your community—your family, friends, and those around you. How would they be impacted if you walked in a deeper level of compassion? What would change if you modeled Jesus’ heart of empathy and kindness? Now, think about what you may need to surrender in your life to make this transformation possible. Write down one specific action or mindset to release, and ask God for the strength to grow in compassion during this season.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for your compassion on me. I did not deserve your
grace, but you gave it to me. I do not deserve your blessings, but you lavish me
with your love. I do not deserve your compassion, but you released it to me. I am
grateful for that. Now, I ask you to make me more like you. Help me to have
compassion for people who are different from me. Help me to become more like
you and be willing to reach outside of my comfort. I want to be an example of love
and compassion to the world, just like you. I love you. In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
Pastor Franklin Aytes
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