Jesus was filled with compassion.
One of the most extraordinary things Mark tells us about Jesus is that he was filled compassion. For example, in Mark 1:40 (NIV) a man with leprosy came to Jesus, begging him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."We talked about this man before. His leprosy made him an outcast— an untouchable, despicable, miserable human being. But our Lord didn’t wince for a second. Mark 1:41 (NIV) says, "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing', he said. 'Be clean!' "
Jesus was impulsively compassionate. He was filled with compassion. He oozed compassion. Not many of us would say that we are filled with compassion. We certainly don’t "ooze" compassion, not like Jesus.
The other day I was at the Christian bookstore and a video was playing in the background. My first thought was, "Could they turn the volume down?" As I got closer it kept blaring louder and louder. I was feeling a little annoyed. Then a clerk broke my preoccupation and told me about a Spanish Bible that I could buy forfive dollarsto helpsome unfortunate person."No thanks, I’ll keep browsing."
Then I noticed the video again.(1) “Millions of children around the world, like Ka, are subject to sexual abuse and exploitation. But this horrific practice can be stopped— and you can help." (2) "Lindiwe is a Hope Child living in a community several affected by the HIV and AIDS crisis. Lindiwe needs your assistance to help save her generation from the HIV and AIDS crisis."(3) "Staggering needs remain in Haiti."
As I made my way to the register, the line sure was moving slow. Another clerk was asking each person to buy afive dollarSpanish Bible, and to consider sponsoring a World Vision child forthirty-five dollars a month.By the time I got to the register, I’d heard the pitch several times. "No thanks." Then they wrote the child's name on my receipt and asked that I pray for her. I’ve been trying to remember her name ever since.
There are lots of problems that are associated with having compassion.
The problem with compassion is where does it begin? Where does it end? Does it make sense? Does it make a difference? Do I have the time or money? If I start, can I finish? Should I give now, or later when I pay off my debts? Am I just handing out fish here, or teaching someone how to fish for themselves? Am I already doing enough?
One constant in the gospel of Mark has been the crowds. The peoplerelentlessly inundate Jesus with their needs. Mark 6:31-33 (NIV) says, "Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he (Jesus) said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them."
The twelve disciples had just gotten back from their missionary journey, but before they even had a chance to eat or unwind, here come the crowds, chasing them on foot. This is one of the problems with compassion. It's never convenient! It's rarely on our terms or schedule. It's always on other people's terms. Count on someone showing up at the least opportune time, right?
Mark 6:34 (NIV) continues, "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."
The twelve disciples were drained by the crowds.
There's that Jesus again, oozing compassion. He's a straight A student. Not the Twelve, though. They were thoroughly annoyed! Their compassion tank was running on empty. They were drained by the crowds, emotionally and physically! And besides, they were really hungry. Mark 6:35-36 (NIV) says, "By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to Jesus. 'This is a remote place, and it's already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.' "
Matthew 24:12 (NIV) warns us that in the last days,"...the love of most will grow cold."Our default setting is to only care about our own needs. If you are standing in line, you don't care that the ten people in front of you are just as hungry as you are. You're thinking, "Gee,is this person ordering forher whole extended family, come on!" Or,"You can read the menu just as well from the back of the line."
We don't see people the same way Jesus sees them.
Our default setting is to see people as objects to manipulate. "Can this person advance my interests? Does he have anything to offer me? If not, get out of my way, pal!"
Our default setting is to cocoon or withdraw from others. Do you ever notice how we stop relating to people and stop enjoying their company? We live in a culture where people barely notice your name or even make eye contact. Everyone's busy with work and activities and television. We're unavailable, again. We pass by people, never acknowledging their presence.
Our default setting is to show contempt for the needs of others. "I didn’t get a free lunch, so they shouldn’t either.Jesus, send them away to buy themselves something to eat."
Our default setting is to underestimate our capacity to show compassion. In Mark 6:37 (NIV) something interesting happens when the disciples ask Jesus to send the crowds away. Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." What?????!!!!!!!!
And notice the disciples' response in Mark 6:37 (NIV). "They said to him, 'That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?' "
Our default setting is to underestimate what God's provided and underestimate God's ability to meet what compassion may demand of us in the moment. Here is the problem with compassion. Compassion requires faith. We have to trust God in order to becomecompassionate people.
Compassion requires faith.
Again, notice Jesus' response in Mark 6:38 (NIV)."How many loaves do you have?' he asked. 'Go and see.' Whenthey found out, they said, 'Five— and two fish.' "
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NIV) promises, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Compassion requires faith in God. God knows what little we have! But he promises that if we are faithful with little, he will allow us to be faithful with much. Here is what happens in our story.Mark 6:39-44 (NIV) continues,"Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied,and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand."
It doesn’t take faith to say, "I'm the one whose hungry, hey, what about me?" It doesn’t take faith to send people away hungry, without help with their utility bill or next month’s rent, or without a full tank of gas. It doesn't take faith to show contempt for people we haven't taken five minutes to get to know. For heaven's sake, what isher name? What isher story? How didshe get into this situation? It doesn’t take faith to say, "I don't make enough money to give to others. I'm barely making ends meet myself." It doesn’t take faith to keep offering up excuses, or to pass the problem up the road. Compassion brings us to the end of ourselves and to the beginning of faith.
Jesus' disciples were thrust into a crisis of compassion.
In Mark 6 Jesus has thrust his disciples into a crisis of compassion where their only resort would be to trust God. But what do they do? Do they courageously rise to the occasion? No! They call a board meeting to crunch numbers, "It will takeeight months labor to even give this many people a small bite. Hmm, maybe we need a fundraiser. No, send them away."
Let's see. We have seen so far in the gospel of Mark that Jesus has conquered temptation and wild animals, evil spirits, fever, sickness, disease, demons, andpolitical pressure. Leprosy, paralysis, and a shriveled-up hand were no match for Jesus' healing power. No sin was too great to forgive. No person was too far from God to restore. The Pharisees and Herodians, the strong man, Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons, the wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee, Legion, King Herod--- death itself was no match for the resurrection power of Jesus! The disciples saw Jesus' power in all these things, yet when it came to the demands of compassion,they were unable to trust God.
In Mark 6:45-49 Jesus dismisses the crowds, sends his disciples in a boat to Bethsaida, and retreats to a mountainside to pray. Once again, the disciples are caught in a storm. They're straining at the oars to make any progress. See Mark 6:48. About that time, they see Jesus walking on water, about to pass them by. They were terrified! They thought Jesus was a ghost!
Mark 6:50-52 (NIV) continues, "But Jesus immediately spoke to them and said, 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.' Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened."It was all right there, and they couldn’t see it!
Wouldn't you know, Mark 6 ends in a rather peculiar way. Jesus never lets us escape the call to compassion.
Mark 6:53-56 (NIV) says,"When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went— into villages, towns or countryside— they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed."
How can we move away from our self-centeredness? We fast so we’ll not be ruled by hunger. We give generously so that God can demonstrate his faithfulness in supplying our every need. We roll up our sleeves and serve so the world will know God’s compassion. The gospel that began with Jesus continues with us.