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Anthony R. Kent When we contemplate the compassion of Jesus, we find it beautiful
and amazing, touching and motivating, challenging and even threatening. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matt. 9:36).* "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Matt. 14:14). "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him" (Matt. 20:34). "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!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured" (Mark 1:40-42). Consider one man who was motivated by the compassion of Jesus. Born at Tremelo, Belgium, on January 3, 1840, he was sent by his father, a small farmer, to a college to prepare for a commercial profession. As a result of the evangelistic activities of the Redemptorists in 1858, Joseph decided to become a priest, and changed his name to Damien. Later, though still in minor orders, he was sent to the mission of the Hawaiian Islands, where he arrived on March 19, 1864. Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest the same year, he was later given charge of various districts on the island of Hawaii. Serving as missionary to the local people, he also constructed several chapels with his own hands.
When he arrived at the leper colony, strong winds had decimated their settlements. The lepers were lying in the rain under sodden blankets in drenched clothing. Damien ministered to the sick by washing them, covering their sores and ulcers, and rebuilding their huts. He taught them to farm, raise animals, and play music. After 12 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. He nevertheless continued his compassionate work with the lepers on the island of Molokai. On April 15, 1889, Damien passed away on Molokai, shortly after closing his fifteenth year in the service of the lepers. He was only 49. According to a dictionary definition, compassion is: "Pity --inclining one to spare or succor." And succor is: "Come to the assistance of, give aid to in need or difficulty. Aid given in time of need." But a dictionary definition of compassion just doesn't capture its total and implied meaning. 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 or a cool refreshing drink on a hot day, a satisfying meal, a comforting touch, a listening ear. Compassion can also be giving money, shelter, clothes, time, care, tears, forgiveness, mercy, peace, and comfort. The meaning of compassion can also be illuminated by stories. "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" (Luke 15:20). In response to this touching story Ellen 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. 54). We can begin to understand divine compassion only 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. There is plenty to see that's not appealing! And there are also some things that are not there that we wish we could see. We are sinners--loaded with defects, destined to die, and hopeless and helpless without the compassionate salvation of Jesus. But 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! When someone is compassionate, there is a cost to be paid. 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, or energy. The religious wealthy in the New Testament era placed large sums of money in the Temple treasury, but they had enormous wealth in reserve. True compassion is giving away something that you don't have a lot of. The tired, hungry widow was gathering a few sticks to bake a final loaf of bread for herself and her only son, yet she shared that bread with the prophet! The One who has the time of eternity, and all the gold and silver and the cattle on a thousand hills, and the energy to create countless galaxies did not give one of His millions or billions of sinless angels; He gave something He was short on--His Son! His one and only Son! He had no other in reserve! He didn't have a spare! That's compassion! And tonight as 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. How can the compassion of Jesus be challenging and threatening? Traditionally and typically, Advent-ism has placed an emphasis on character. For many this emphasis has produced a certain religious and spiritual toughness, a kind of resoluteness. We do need character development, self-discipline, resilience, and sanctification, but we don't need the crusty, hardened exteriors that can be an unfortunate by-product of this emphasis. A certain toughness and resoluteness have enabled many to leave Babylon and join the remnant, 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 retain compassion toward others. Jesus was able and willing to go without food for 40 days, and tough enough to resist the devil, yet capable of being compassionate to people who hadn't had food for just a day or two. He healed the wounds of others--but was uncomplaining when wounded. He replaced or healed the ear of a cowardly gang member even though He knew that He was going to suffer terrible abuse and ultimately die an agonizing death. We Adventists are a prophetic movement, commissioned to take the eternal gospel to the entire world. But 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. Jesus said of His ministry: "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" (Luke 4:18). Undergirding the ministry of the Messiah is compassion; good news for those who are poor is compassion; freedom for prisoners is compassion; sight for those who are blind is compassion; releasing those who are oppressed is compassion; and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor is compassion.
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. Ellen White 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 Savior effected our redemption, our regeneration, and our adoption to heirship with Christ. Let this grace be revealed to others" (Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 268). Another challenge or threat to compassion is "compassion fatigue." I wonder if the Ephesians in Revelation had lost their compassion for others when they lost their "first love." "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Rev. 2:4). I wonder if the Laodicean church struggled with "To him who overcomes . . ." (Rev. 3:21). Overcomes what? Overcomes themselves, sees past themselves, past their own pain! And finds compassion for others. 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. My problems don't seem so bad when I read the desperate requests for healing for a child with leukemia or for 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 have impulsively said "No," the moment passes, and the opportunity is lost. Then we have to live with the resulting guilt. One of the enduring beauties of Jesus is this: every time He 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! "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3). "Therefore,
as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Col. 3:12). |
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A leper settlement had grown up on the island of Molokai, where
the government kept segregated all persons afflicted with this tragic disease.
Damien requested a transfer to this island.
Does this mean that compassion should limit ministry to only
the social gospel or pure welfare work? No. People also need the experience
of God's atoning grace and forgiveness. An individual is not eternally saved
by receiving the compassion of a well-meaning Christian.  |
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