The Son of Compassion
\nCopyright by Shea Oakley
\nAll rights reserved<\/p>\n
It is impossible to know Jesus Christ without knowing His compassion. One of the most profound truths of conversion is the realization that, though we are justly condemned, the One who would rightfully condemn us does not desire to do so. As we viscerally come to know this truth, that Jesus deeply desires us to be redeemed and healed, we become willing to let Him do it. <\/p>\n
\tIt is easy to read about Jesus having compassion on someone in Scripture and miss the profound depth of what that means. God incarnate sees our misery and His reaction is not \u201cthey are getting what they so richly deserve\u201d but instead a passionate desire to help. The Lord of the Universe is moved by humankind\u2019s pain. God not only weeps over our lostness but in Christ He extends Himself to find us. This is the definition of compassion, not only being affected by someone\u2019s suffering but actually acting to relieve that suffering. All the healings in Christ\u2019s ministry are examples of this love in action, this willingness to enter into our place of pain and do something about it.<\/p>\n
\tOne of the hardest tasks in the believer\u2019s life is to trust that when they hurt, God hurts. In the world we see so much indifference towards, often even pleasure in, the sufferings of others. We even see it in people that call themselves Christians but who seem to glory in judging others for the sake of judging others. These Christians get some sort of high from making others feel guilty rather than convicted. It seems impossible to believe that the kind of radical compassion we so desperately need could exist in such a world especially when it cannot be found in some of our churches! The bottom line is that the misery of this fallen place we dwell in seems overwhelming; and so it is apart from the reality of Christ. <\/p>\n
But in the Son of God there dwells a transcendent love for us, one that is unaffected by the darkness of this time and place. It is the compassion of the cross. The love that brought Jesus to Golgotha was also the love that ultimately raised Him from the dead and it is this same power that enables us to be brought to and changed by our risen Lord today. When we are touched from above by God, when we are freed from some pain, healed of some wound, we need to remember that the Lord is not doing this reluctantly or begrudgingly. He is simply revealing the depth of His compassionate nature. He knows our anguish and he shares in it. Our Savior has not been called the \u201cSon of Compassion\u201d without glorious reason. Our pain truly is His pain and, because of His very nature, Jesus Christ will not let that pain go forever unremoved. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Son of Compassion Copyright by Shea Oakley All rights reserved It is impossible to know Jesus Christ without knowing His compassion. One of the most profound truths of conversion is the realization that, though we are justly condemned, the One who would rightfully condemn us does not desire to do so. As we viscerally… <\/p>\n