Devotion by Anthony Kent

GC Session St. Louis, Missouri

July 4, 2005

When humanity contemplates the compassion of Jesus, we find it beautiful and amazing, touching and motivating, challenging and even threatening.

Consider these passages:

Matt 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matt 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matt 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

Matt 20:34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Mark 1:40-42 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."   Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

In what way is the Compassion of Jesus motivating?

Well, one man who was motivated by it, was born at Tremeloo, Belgium, 3 January 1840. His father, a small farmer, sent him to a college to prepare for a commercial profession; but as a result of the evangelistic activities of the Redemptorists in 1858, Joseph decided to become a priest. He changed his name to Damien. He was admitted to the religious profession on 7 October 1860. Three years later, though still in minor orders, he was sent to the mission of the Hawaiian Islands, where he arrived, 19 March, 1864. Damien was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest at Honolulu, 24 May of the same year. He was later given charge of various districts on the island of Hawaii, and, animated with a burning zeal, his robust constitution allowed him to give full play to the impulses of his heart. He was not only the missionary of the local people, but also constructed several chapels with his own hands.

On the island of Molokai, a leper settlement had grown, where the Government kept segregated all persons afflicted with this tragic disease. Damien requested a transfer to this Island. When Damien arrived at the leper colony, strong winds had decimated their settlements. He found them lying in the rain, under sodden blankets in drenched clothing. He ministered to the sick, by washing them, covering their sores and ulcers and rebuilding their huts. He wanted to make the settlement better and make them comfortable. He taught them to farm, raise animals and play music.

After twelve years of this compassionate service he stood before them and opened his address by saying, "We lepers ...".

He had discovered in himself the first symptoms of leprosy. This was in 1885. He nevertheless continued his compassionate work with the lepers, on the island of Molokai. On 28 March, 1889, Father Damien became helpless and passed away on Molokai, shortly after closing his fifteenth year in the service of the lepers. He was 49.

It is obvious that Damien was motivated by the compassion of Jesus.

How do we define compassion?

According to a dictionary, compassion is:

'Pity - inclining one to spare or succour'

And Succour is:

'Come to assistance of, give aid to in need or difficulty. Aid given in time of need!

Somehow a dictionary definition of compassion doesn't capture the total and implied meaning of compassion.

What's a real definition? What surges through our minds when we think of compassion?

Compassion can be:

a smile

a prayer

a drink - a warming drink on a cold night / a cool refreshing drink on a hot day!

a satisfying Meal

a comforting Touch

a Listening ear

Compassion can also be giving:

Some money

Some shelter

Some clothes

Some time

Some care

Some tears

Some forgiveness, mercy, peace and comfort

Compassion can be giving something that you possess - something that you can give;

And it normally includes yourself!

The meaning of compassion can also be illuminated in the context of stories.

In Luke 15:20 we read:

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

In response to this touching story, Mrs White was inspired to write:

"But even this parable, tender and touching as it is, comes short of expressing the infinite compassion of the heavenly Father." (Steps to Christ p.53.2)

As humans, we can only begin to understand Divine Compassion when we have some comprehension of our own true identity and the identity of the Divine One.

What am I like? Who am I - really?

When we look at our character traits...it's often a disappointment.

When we take a good hard look at ourselves- there is often plenty to see that's not appealing! And there are also some things, which are not there, that we wish we could see.

We are sinners - loaded with defects - destined to die - hopeless and helpless - without the compassionate salvation of Jesus.

God is compassionate to us - with eternal consequences. And that is amazing, it is awesome!

Jesus didn't just have compassion as a value.
Jesus didn't just speak about compassion.
Jesus didn't just raise the awareness of compassion.
He was and remains - compassionate! In action!
Jesus didn't put compassion on the agenda for others to do!
And when someone is compassionate, there is a cost to be paid

There is a Cost of Compassion - and Jesus, with His Father was prepared and continues to be prepared to pay the exacting price of compassion.

True compassion is not given out of a wealth of discretionary - time -money -energy.

Like the religious wealthy, in the New Testament era, they placed large sums of money in the temple treasury - a lot of money - but they had enormous wealth in reserve!

-True compassion is giving away something that you don't have a lot of - for some it may be time, for others it may be money (similar to the widow and her mites for example) or energy - For example, the tired, hungry widow gathering a few sticks - to bake a final loaf of bread for her and her only son - yet she shared that bread with the prophet!

And for One who has the time of eternity, and all the gold and silver and the cattle on the 1000 hills and the energy to create countless galaxies - He didn't give one of His millions or billions of sinless angels, He gave something he was short on - His Son!
He gave His only Son!
His one and only Son!
He had no other in reserve! He didn't have a spare!
That's compassion!

And tonight, when we, the followers of Jesus, contemplate the compassion of Jesus and His Father, we find it beautiful and amazing, touching and motivating, challenging and threatening.

But how can the Compassion of Jesus be challenging and threatening?
Here's one example:
Traditionally and typically, Adventism has placed an emphasis on:
Character development,
Self discipline,
Resilience
Sanctification.

For many this emphasis has produced a certain religious/spiritual toughness - a certain kind of resoluteness.

Please don't misunderstand me, we do need character development, self discipline, resilience and sanctification, but we don't need the crusty, hardened exteriors that can be a very unfortunate by product of this emphasis.

A certain toughness and resoluteness has enabled so many to leave Babylon and join the remnant! This has enabled people to "Step Out!", to do superhuman things - empowered by their experience with Jesus.

One of the hardest aspects of the Christian life is to be resilient and strong and yet retaining compassion toward others.

Jesus was able and willing to go without food for 40 days and tough enough to resist the devil and yet be compassionate to people - 100's of them who haven't had food for just a day or two! - and provide for them!

He healed the wounds of others - but was uncomplaining when wounded!

He replaced or healed the ear of a cowardly gang member - who, He knew was going to ensure that He was going to suffer the most horrendous bashings and ultimately die a most agonising death!

While we as Adventists are a prophetic movement, a movement of destiny, commissioned to take the eternal gospel to all the world, just as Jesus commanded, we need to be bathed and immersed in the compassion of Jesus. It needs to drip from us! We communicate the gospel not just with magazines, tracts, TV and satellite programs, public and personal proclamation - we communicate Jesus through this compassion.

Let us notice a major yet succinct summary of Jesus' ministry from:

Luke 4:18,19 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.

Undergirding the ministry of the Messiah is Compassion!
-good news to poor is being compassionate
-freedom for prisoners is being compassionate
-sight for blind is being compassionate
-released the oppressed is being compassionate

Proclaim the year of the Lord's favour is being compassionate. But, does this mean that Compassion should limit ministry only to the social Gospel?

Only, pure welfare work? Or, just the work of ADRA? And no more!?!

Yes, people need to be aware of God's compassion - but they also need - even more - the experience of God's atoning grace and forgiveness - the forgiveness of sins through Jesus' death. An individual is not eternally saved by receiving the compassion of a well meaning Christian.

The social gospel must embrace the 'eternal gospel' of Revelation 14 to ensure that lives are benefited for eternity - not just temporarily improved or comforted. Because there is nothing so tragic in all the world as a 'Christless' grave.

An inspired lady wrote, "We all need to sow a crop of patience, compassion, and love. We shall reap the harvest we are sowing. Our characters are now forming for eternity. Here on earth we are training for heaven. We owe everything to grace, free grace, sovereign grace. Grace in the covenant ordained our adoption. Grace in the Saviour effected our redemption, our regeneration, and our adoption to heirship with Christ. Let his grace be revealed to others" (269) (6T 268.3)

Another challenge or threat to compassion is "Compassion Fatigue"!

I wonder if the Ephesians in Rev 2:4 had lost their compassion for others, when they lost their 'first love'? "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."

I wonder if the Laodecian Church struggled with:

"To him who overcomes..."

Overcomes what? Overcomes themselves, sees past themselves / past their own pain! And finds compassion for others - which is - more than sympathy - it's compassion in action!

You Know....

Whenever I'm tempted to think that I've been hard-done-by - a victim, and unfortunately these attitudes can visit me too regularly -- I have a look at the prayer requests, which are circulated around our office. All of a sudden my problems are not so bad! - When I read the desperate requests for healing for a child with leukaemia or a young mother with terminal cancer!

Closely linked to "Compassion Fatigue" is...

Living with the regret of unapplied compassion!

When you've been prompted and moved - then impulsively say "no" - the moment passes, the opportunity passes - the opportunity lost and compassion has not been offered. Then we have to live with the resulting guilt!

One of the enduring beauties of Jesus is:

Every time Jesus was moved with compassion - He did something! - There was action! There was compassion. He fed, He healed, He touched, He loved, He died, He rose, He's coming back! - The Compassionate Jesus! He Lives!

2 Cor 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

Col 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.