Compassion - Compassion - Compassion

compassion - compassion - compassion

Mark 8New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 ¡°I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.¡±

4 His disciples answered, ¡°But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?¡±

5 ¡°How many loaves do you have?¡± Jesus asked.

¡°Seven,¡± they replied.

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

Every Generation looks for a sign ¨C some of the signs giving on television are in advertising.

One cigarette company years ago advertised their cigarettes as curing athsma or at least helping with it. Truth is cigarette smoking helps to cause Athsma. Or what about those hamburger Advertisements from the big chains that advertise culinary delights but in effect provide something much less.

We have been accustomed to exaggeration

In Titus chapter 1 we read of God 1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ in service of the faith of God¡¯s elect and of their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie,promised before time began.

It not only says that God does not lie it says he can not lie. In other words it is impossible for him to reverse his own character.

When God¡¯s truth is revealed amazing things happen.

In 1858 revivalist Jeremiah Meneely brought his preaching to Belfast, Ireland. He talked about repentance, reform, and committing yourself to the Lord. The men there worked in a shipyard and were so convicted of their sins, they repented and began to return the tools they had pilfered during the previous years. The response was so complete the shipyard had to build extra sheds to take in all of the returned tools! Eventually, the management asked that there be no further returns of stolen property! You know the Holy Spirit is working in a community when people start living like real Christians and make tangible changes in their lives. This is the fruit of the real gospel.

So in Mark chapter 8 when we read that Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 ¡°I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.¡± When we read that we can be sure that the compassion of Jesus was absolutely genuine.

This Greek word compassion Cognate: 4697 splagxn¨ªzomai ¨C "from splanxna, 'the inward parts,' especially the nobler entrails ¨C the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These gradually came to denote the seat of the affections" (WS, 111).See 4698 (splangxnon).

Ever feel no one cares no one really minds what happens to you.

I believe this simple word compassion in this passage makes that thought invalid.

Jesus models compassion for us and we can learn how to express compassion most faithfully by observing him carefully.

Mark 8:2-3

"I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. "If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance."

Jesus sees a need. In fact his followers desire to hear his teaching has created that need.

Jesus compassion for the practical needs of people sinks deeply into the core of his being. splagxn¨ªzomai into his heart and the very core of his being. There is an urgency here a deep felt concern at his peoples needs. Mark 8:2-3

"I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. "If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance."