When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9.36
Thomas Constable notes this truth follows two groups of miracles that Matthew presented to demonstrate Jesus’ ability to heal (8.1-17) and to perform miracles with supernatural power (8.23-9.8). This last cluster demonstrates His ability to restore (9.18-34). These miracles show that Jesus can restore all things, as the prophets predicted Messiah would do.
But why? What was His motive in healing? Was it the quickest way to gather a crowd? Would it be the “proof” that some would be looking for in the Messiah? Or was it something else?
Father Greg Boyle says the incarnation was necessary so God’s love could become tender. Meister Eckhart said, “It is a lie, any talk of God that doesn’t comfort you.”
When Jesus saw the crowds, why did He have compassion on them? When He looked into the eyes of those who were being harassed, what did He see? When He listened to the helpless, what did He hear? When He looked at them collectively He saw both an individual and a communal need. Jesus choose to act with great tenderness, with compassion.
In its simplest form, compassion can be described as “love in action.” Jesus didn’t just see. He didn’t just hear. He acted. He moved toward the crowd with love to comfort.
The God of unfathomable compassion sees you. He hears you. He knows the times when you’ve been helpless, and harassed. He knows that threats and accusations that the evil one whispers your way.
Putting love into action, He comes to you. He doesn’t wait for you to “get over it.” He doesn’t wait for you to come out of hiding. Jesus moves toward you in the midst of the taunts, the fears, and the failures.
What if instead of striving you received? Instead of hustling for your worthiness, or trying to prove yourself, you rested in His finished work? What if you began to believe God is at work in unseen and unknown ways, and His love will ultimately prevail? What if you lived as if this truth were true?
Jesus’ motive was restoration. The restoration of all things, all people, all creation. Jesus comes tenderly and compassionately to restore you and your community in relationship to Him.
Reflection:
- Where in your current reality do you need restoration?
- How and where have you experienced the tenderness and compassion of Jesus? Be specific.
- “Jesus moves toward you with compassion.” How might you fully live into this truth today?
Pray through the truth of 2 Corinthians 1.3-7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
