His Heart in Action
It is remarkable when reading through the Gospels the number of times one finds a reference to the compassion of Christ in relation to human need:
“…and He had compassion on them and healed the sick…” Matthew 14:14
“I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” Matthew 15:32
“…and He had compassion on them…and He began to teach them many things,” Mark 6:34
“…and He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do no weep,’” Luke 7:13
The Greek word translated compassion in each of these verses is a literal reference to ones bowels or guts. It is the way that ancient people made reference to one’s innermost core, much like we might say “with all my heart” today. This compassion reflects the deepest heart of Christ.
When one takes a look at the Gospels as a whole, what is it about Jesus Christ that stands out most strongly? I would argue that it is the very way that He moves toward, heals, offers forgiveness, and interacts with those who deserve it the least, yet desire it the most.
You can’t miss this important reality concerning the compassion of Christ. The Jesus that is given to us in the Gospels is not one who simply loves; but rather one who is love.
Ortlund states that “it is impossible for the affectionate heart of Christ to be overcelebrated, made too much of, exaggerated” (Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, 29). Some might wonder, “Are we in danger, in talking of the heart of Christ, of neglecting his wrath?” We are not leaving behind the harsher side of Jesus as we speak of his heart, rather, we are following the Bible’s witness of Christ’s heart and affection toward sinners and sufferers, while never belittling or demeaning His dealing with sin.
Even as Jesus ministered to undeserving sinners we find that He was returning to them what sin and living in a fallen world had taken. We often tend to think of miracles as interruptions in the natural order. Yet the true reality is that they’re actually a restoration of the natural order, not an interruption. We have become so used to life in a fallen world that sickness, disease, pain, and death seem natural, when in fact they are the interruption to the world that God created.
It has been said that “Christ is love, covered in flesh” (Goodwin, The Heart of Christ, 61). If you were to ever pause and wonder what compassion would look like if it clothed itself in a human body, you need to wonder no more, for it is Christ! Don’t be tempted to think that this reality is only true for those who lived while Jesus physically walked the earth. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
We ought to be encouraged to know that the same Jesus who wept at Lazarus’ tomb, weeps with us in our despair. And the same hands that reached out to heal twisted limbs are the same hands that reach deep into the recesses of our soul and bring healing to the silent cries we may never utter. Christ is not just near, but by the work of the Spirit, Christ lives in us! Take heart to know that in all of your struggles and difficulties, Christ is closer to us today than He was to the sinners He spoke with and touched in His earthly ministry.
Christ loves and His compassion on us moves Him to action, because He is gentle and lowly.