The poor widow is on her way to the funeral of her only son. Her heart is bleeding, and her eyes are watering. Suddenly, someone comes up to her. His eyes show the same pain. For the man, it feels as if his own son has died. The woman’s pain is his pain. His heart is also bleeding. And that’s why he can comfort the woman …
This is how I imagine the incident in Luke 7:12-16 when the Lord Jesus meets the widow of Nain. This passage is one of the seven in the Gospels where we are told in a heart-rending way that our Lord was “deeply moved.” He had deep compassion – and here it comes: We are often called upon also to feel the emotion of compassion and to act accordingly.
Visual lessons
As in every area of life, the best way to learn is by example. The key is again in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where we read that we are transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus by beholding him. And then John 13:15 applies: “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
The Lord had deep compassion when he saw someone in pain in the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) when he stood at the grave of a friend (John 11:33-35) when he thought of unbelievers without God (Matthew 9:36). His compassion was involved even though he knew that he was about to relieve the need. It was literally his heart’s desire to sympathize.
And now you and me!
The sheer number of calls for compassion alone should make us think about how important this topic is to God:
- “Weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15) – as if the reason for weeping concerns you.
- “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them” (Heb 13:3) – as if you were in prison with them.
- “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2) – as if the burden is placed on you.
- “…distributing to the needs of the saints” (Rom 12:13) – as if the needs were my own.
- … and many more – perhaps you could add to the list?
Forced love, forced compassion?
The difficult thing about feelings is that they often arise from an emotional situation. That’s why the question arises here – as with love: “But can I force compassion? What if I don’t feel it at all?”
The three Greek words for “love” help again here: the world only thinks of “eros” (physical love), we mostly think of “phileo” (emotional love) – but God almost always thinks of “agape.” In other words, the love that cannot help but love and does not need any reason to do so. Our compassion (similar to our “agape” love for one another, see John 13:35) should not only be active when the suffering of the other person really concerns and touches us inwardly. No, if my brother/sister is suffering, then I should suffer with them, whether I can empathize with the problem or not. Compassion is, therefore, on the one hand, a matter of the heart, but on the other hand, also a clear decision of the will: “I want to make the pain of others my own!” In this, we would be like Christ.
Incidentally, the Lord Jesus knows how it feels when no one sympathizes with you: “Reproach has broken my heart, … I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.” (Psalm 69:20). The compassionate person receives no compassion. Perhaps someone is also waiting right now for you to sympathize with them in some particular need – and to come by with sincere comfort?
“The Lord is very compassionate.” (James 5:11) –> “But be kind to one another, tenderhearted (or: compassionate).” (Eph 4:32)
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