Compassion
Mark 6:30-44 displays a familiar story told through the ages. As Jesus and His disciples went on a boat by themselves seeking rest, a large crowd gathered on the shore waiting to see Jesus. Verse 34 states “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
If you were to drive through any large city, you would likely find numerous homeless people or drug addicts on the streets. Many times, our reaction to these people is disgust. We are repulsed by the sins that they have committed. We often attempt to distance ourselves from the people that we deem disgusting, shameful, and lost. Jesus could have felt disgust for the people waiting for Him on the shore. Jesus didn’t do that though. In fact, Jesus had compassion on them because they were “like sheep without a shepherd.” Further, Jesus’ compassion on this crowd led to an action as He “began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).
Today there are many divisions. If you do not vote for the same candidate as the person next to you, you might as well be garbage. If you do not support the same values as another person, you’re racist, homophobic, xenophobic, etc. However, when we look at the life of Jesus, He has a unique perspective on those we often want to stay away from. Jesus had compassion. He recognized the lost condition of these people and sought to bring them hope. These people wandered aimlessly as sheep without a shepherd and Jesus became their shepherd.
Today we need to follow Jesus’ example of compassion. We can achieve this by comforting those who are going through what we’ve been through (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). Additionally, by accepting our shortcomings, we can better understand the condition others are in (Matthew 7:1-5). Further, we should choose to help rather than ridicule (Mark 6:30-44). Lastly, we ought to share in celebration or sadness with those we encounter (Romans 12:15-16).
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8).
