God's Compassion

“Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I will; be clean!” (Mark 1:41)

Jesus spoke beautiful words of love and compassion when He walked the earth, and which now speak to us. Whatever the need, He says, “I will.” Do you need healing? He says, “I will.” Right away one doubts and thinks of the brethren who were not healed here on earth. Jesus’ words do not change. He will. But we need to see the circumstances. As hurtful as it may seem, sometimes the death of a person, especially a child may be the most compassionate and loving thing that Jesus allows to happen. He knows the end from the beginning and only God knows what would happen to that child in adolescence or adulthood that would separate him from the love of God. God in His love and mercy saves the soul of that child before it sins.

I knew of a man who as a baby had pneumonia. He was near death. His parents pleaded in prayer for the baby to live. And God granted them their petition. But the child grew and had a very unhappy childhood and adult life separated from God. He was eventually murdered. He would have been spared his unhappiness and troubled life if he’d gone to be with the Lord as a baby. Only God knows. We should pray, “Thy will be done.” We can’t see tomorrow and don’t know what the Lord is sparing us from when things happen that we don’t understand. Of course we want children to live their lives on earth. And God’s plan is for every child to grow and live a blessed life. But only God knows what is best. We should pray, “If it’s Your Will Father,” because we know God wants what is best for us.

The Lord’s plan is for us to live our lives here on this earth. But as we all know, this life here is difficult. It’s one trial after another. With the Lord and all His blessings, we are able to have victory and peace. But those who do not know the Lord suffer greatly in their bodies, their souls (mind, will, emotions) and their spirits. They try to make sense of what they don’t know because their spirits are darkened and cannot comprehend the spiritual world. They wander and suffer in darkness, subjected to the wiles of the devil. “Be sensible and vigilant, because your adversary the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;” (1Peter 5:8).

One thing is certain. God loves us. And God wants the best for all of us, even the sinner. God is patiently waiting in this dispensation of mercy and grace for all men to come to repentance and to turn to Him, to be spared the destruction that is coming on the earth and to be blessed in this life and the next. “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward” (2Peter 3:9) That is why Jesus came. He came to show God’s mercy, love and compassion toward mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

Paul or whoever wrote the book of Hebrews because it’s uncertain who wrote it, writes, “Therefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like His brothers, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people.” (Hebrews 2:17) Jesus saw it as His duty or obligation to become flesh. Notice this Scripture says, “...like His brothers...” This shows that He knew who would become His brethren since the creation of the world. And the only way that could happen is if God Himself provided the sinless man for a sacrifice. And that could only be God. Only God is sinless. God the Son, Jesus, had to offer Himself for mankind so that we could become His brethren. The Bible outlines this perfectly. When Jesus first calls the disciples, He calls them friends. “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) After the resurrection when all mankind is redeemed, He calls them brothers when He speaks to Mary Magdelene and the other Mary. “Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid; go tell My brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28:10) Now, after the resurrection and when man had been redeemed, the disciples were the brethren of Jesus.

As redeemed people who believe in Jesus, we become children of the Father and brethren of Jesus. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26) And Jesus shares His inheritance with us, His brothers and sisters. “And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)

God is good and compassionate in this age of mercy and grace. His blessings abound to those who love Him and who are learning to know Him. Peter exhorts us. “But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2Peter 3:18) Paul and Timothy write to the Colossians, “ For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every work and increasing in the knowledge of God, being empowered with all power, according to the might of His glory, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks to the Father, who has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)

Briefly, these Scriptures show the love, mercy and compassion of our God. By God, I mean the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus became flesh because of His compassion. And no matter if the circumstances seem hopeless, to those of us who are God’s children, we should take comfort knowing that God is doing what is best for us. Yes, it may be very difficult to understand because we are limited in our knowledge of eternity, but God’s love and compassion rule our lives. “...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5) We have no idea what joys are awaiting us in eternity.