In the 1600s the puritan, Thomas Goodwin, wrote a book entitled, 'The Heart of Jesus in Heaven for Sinners on Earth.' The reason he wrote this book was that he noticed that people were envious of those who lived in Jesus' day and met with Him in person. They feared that now that Jesus was in heaven, He would have more important things to do than listen to our worries and anxieties. Goodwin pointed out that the reverse is actually true. Jesus is filled with the same compassion that we see in the gospels, however, now that He is in heaven he is not limited by time and space. Now Jesus is always available, and now He is able to care for each of His children without limits.
The gospel writers use a word to describe Jesus' compassion that they restrict to Him, or people like Him in His parables, such as the father in the prodigal story. It is a word that points to a deep feeling in His guts. In this talk we are going to look at this unique compassion of Jesus.
1. In compassion Jesus calls us to Himself
The apostles return from the mission that Jesus had sent them out on. You can imagine the excitement as they tell Him all that they had done and taught. But they are also exhausted. To make matters worse, the curious crowds and pressing in on them, and that don't even have the space and time to eat (32). So, Jesus commands them, 'come away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile' (31).
The English Standard Version uses the word 'desolate place' in verses thirty-one, thirty-two and thirty-five.' This word might be translated 'wilderness', and wilderness has loads of connotations from the Old Testament.
One reference to the wilderness is in Hosea 2:14. There God invites a sinful and adulterous people into the desolate place in order to 'speak to them tenderly.' Jesus wants us to take time with alone Him in order that we might hear Him speak tenderly to us. Sometimes, He brings us alone to Himself, because, like the apostles, we have become weary in well-doing. Other times, like in Hosea, we need to hear God's tender words because of our self-inflicted wounds, caused by our own foolishness and sin. Remember that when we approach Him in humility, He will speak to us in gentleness.
2. In Compassion Jesus speaks to us tenderly
The north tip of the Sea of Galilee is only about six miles across. The crowd was able to keep up with Jesus and the apostles as they sailed across that lake. In fact, the crowd grew as it passed through the villages on the way. It was up to five thousand men, plus women and children, when Jesus and the disciples arrived at the far shore.
Now, how do you think Jesus and the disciples felt when they saw the crowds? Their plans for rest had been interrupted! Jesus feels compassion. I love the way that Donald English explains this compassion of Jesus: 'to be inwardly moved so as to have to do something about it.'
Jesus knows that the apostles need rest, but His plans need to change for a while. The compassion of Jesus calls us to be flexible. As need which we never anticipated - like a housing crisis and a war in Ukraine - arise, our plans may need to change in order that we can respond with the compassion of Jesus.
He has compassion on the crowds, because ' they are like sheep without a shepherd'. They are spiritually leaderless. He has come as God's promised good shepherd. God said, 'I will seek the lost, I will bring back the strays, I will heal the injured and I will strengthen the weak' (Ezekiel 34:16).
How does God's promised shepherd show compassion? He does so as He teaches the people many things (34).
While the crowds had hoped for a political messiah who would free them from the hated Romans, Jesus speaks of a greater freedom. He has the authority to forgive sin. He has come not for the self-righteous but those who know we are wicked, and only in Him is peace found.
Today, we look around at people who are like sheep without a shepherd, in a society that has no religious or moral direction, and we don't speak of the old ways of authoritarian religion. We tell people of Jesus and all that He has done for us.
3. In Compassion Jesus cares for our needs
Jesus' primary concern is that people will enjoy eternal life: life of freedom and purpose now followed by life of enjoying Him forever., but He also cares for our emotional and spiritual needs.
When it becomes late in the day, the disciples approach Jesus and say, 'send them away so that they may buy something to eat' (36).
Jesus replies, 'you give them something to eat' (37).
Now the apostles have seen Jesus do miracles. God has used them in healing people. They know that Jesus can provide. But they respond like many of us (and like many a church), 'it would cost too much!'
We are called to respond to people's needs. We need to be listening to Jesus and looking around to see who we can help. We must not simply respond with budget considerations. Cost must not dictate what we will or won't do!
4. In compassion Jesus lets us share in His work
At this stage Jesus could have given up on the apostles. They did not share His compassion. They did not have His flexibility. They lacked the faith to remember that He can deliver. But Jesus does something that not only shows His compassion for the hungry crowd but demonstrates His love for the apostles: He involves them in what He is doing. He strengthens their faith as they get to hand out the miraculous provision.
Jesus commands that the people be divided into groups 'on the green grass'. That reference to green grass brings us back to the promise of a shepherd in Ezekiel 34:15, and it also reminds us of the twenty-third Psalm, where we read that 'The Lord is my shepherd, he makes me lie down on green pastures' (Psalm 32:2). Remember that the aim of Mark's gospel is to show us who Jesus is.
Then, in verse 40, Jesus has the crowds divided into groups of fifties and hundreds. This is an echo of Exodus (18:21 and 25), when God was feeding the people manna in the wilderness.
So, who is Jesus? He is the promised shepherd of the book of Ezekiel, the Lord who is my shepherd of the Psalms and the God who feeds people manna in the wilderness. At the end of the feeding there is plenty left over because this is Jehovah-Jirah (Yahweh my Provider).
Conclusion
Dane Ortland writes, 'Jesus Christ is infinitely gentle. He is the most open and accessible, the most peaceful and accommodating person in the universe. He is the most tender, least abrasive person you will ever come across. Infinite strength, infinite meekness. Dazingly resplendent: endlessly calm.'
Come aside with Jesus - not because law demands it but because relationships need to be nourished.
Listen as He speaks tenderly to you. Even when we fail, His heart goes out to us. How does God change us? 'You will not change until you get straight who Jesus is, particularly with regards his surprising tenderness.' (Ortland).
Seek to show compassion to people. As we respond to Jesus' call to show costly care to needy people our hearts will grow in love.
Hear His invitation to follow. Not because He needs us, but because in love He wants to bless us and let us be a blessing.
Very clear & interesting points.
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