JAMES W. FARRIS: THE DOMINATING QUALITY OF CHRIST

THE DOMINATING QUALITY OF CHRIST: COMPASSION
Matthew 9:36

1. Blurred distinctions between “need & want”. Most want but don’t realize truest needs.

A. People need the wisdom that comes from above. (Jas. 1:17, I Cor. 3:19-20)
B. People need a deep spirituality. People need a valid standard of morality.
C. BUT PERHAPS MORE THAN THIS…PEOPLE NEED A SELFLESS HEART.

2. With a heart, person can live & have hope. With out heart both impossible. Zech. 7:9

A. World of Pro beggars. Hard to know “true” from “sham. World teaches concern for self, nothing left for others. Plus: Don’t get involved. Needy die 5 feet away.
B. Now we know why there may be more overwhelming need on basic compassion.

3. Charity works growing, but less compassion! Must return to principle I Cor. 13:3!
So, we turn to Christ again, He is fullness/completeness of any quality. (Eph. 4:13)

I. THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST WAS OBVIOUS IN HIM. (Quote Text)

1. Ministry in full swing, in Palestine crowds keep growing. (9:35) Faces multitude.
They were hungry but they didn’t know what for! He looks from faces to souls.

2. His mind shifts. Picture field with dead sheep and others scattered, lost shepherd,
no protection against beasts, wandering aimlessly. Not lives but souls endangered.

A. Imagine how a dedicated shepherd would see neglected flock. Doctor view diseased area of children. Mother when she finds children with nobody.
B. This gives small idea of how Jesus felt with the emotion of compassion.

3. Latin word: With passion. Sympathy: With pathos (Feeling) Original greek term
means: “To have bowels of yearning.” Something moves you inside!

A. Passion is dirty word today. Jesus elevates passions with new meaning and value.

4. Jesus shows the example of compassion to DO when it is possible!

A. When someone couldn’t see a bird or face of loved one. (Mt. 20:30,34)
B. When the people did not have spiritual guidance. (Text)
C. When the people were hungry. (Mt. 15:32)
D. All this tells you He has compassion when we have needs to!
E. PLUS: His compassion is complete and not selfish.
F. Ex: Mk. 6:31-34. He thought of others instead of Himself.
5. But it was SUPREME because it was TRANSLATED INTO ACTION.

A. “Moved with compassion” is highly suggestive. (From inside out)
B. If they had spiritual needs: He taught. Death of Son: He raised. Leprosy: He healed. Blindness: He gave sight. Hunger: He fed.
C. Our custom: SYMPATHY CARD but needs to be seen practical way. (I Jn. 3:17)
D. So our compassion should be complete, unselfish and translate into action.

II. TRANSLATING HIS QUALITY INTO OUR OWN LIVES.

1. We are challenged to have the same kind of compassion. (Eph. 4:13, 15, Phil. 1:18)
When teaching of the church like a lord He gives Mt. 18:27, 33.
When telling how we should feel towards our neighbor. Lk. 10:33
Most moving story of all is Luke 15:20. (Contrast to brother who lost heart!)

2. And just in case we don’t believe it is important to be compassionate, Jesus puts it
more strongly to us in Matthew 25. Important because deals with your heart.

A. If heart is right, all falls in place. If you have no compassion, reject His. Dt. 13:7
B. Several things move us: 1) Greatness/Power 2) Harder: Moved by ugly. I P 3:8
C. Compassion like any quality must be developed.
D. “Fell in love” True love grows. Doesn’t happen at speed of light.
E. Eph. 3:16-19. WE can be filled with completeness of God as we: 1) Do His will. 2) Come to know JC through His Word. 3) Cultivate love in heart. 4) Imitate Him.

3. So the greatest things we can do to gain these is: 1)Forgetting the self. 2) Learn to put
ourselves in the other persons place. (This is compassion: to feel with someone else!)

III. THE EXAMPLE OF COMPASSION WE DRAW STRENGTH FROM.

1. Been traveling 4 days, mind goes back to request 2 days ago. Jesus could’ve just
spoken the word but didn’t. He sees Martha in front of crowd and she says “Lazarus is
gone.” “I know” “If only you had been here!” “Where is Mary!?”

2. No attempt at bravery, Mary says, “Lord if you had been here!” Slowly walked to
place Lazarus was and seeing crowds, tears welled up. Jesus began to cry.

A. Nothing unusual about tears…He was a mourner…but John watched and realized the resurrection of Lazarus was JC’s plan all along.
B. Why did Jesus cry? Not because someone died. Not because potential of life was cut short. He cried because of sympathy, compassion and feeling for others.
C. HE PUT HIMSELF IN THEIR PLACE AND WAS DEEPLY TOUCHED.

1. How we need to develop tender hearts! When we see physical and spiritual needs,
tender hearts will try to alleviate those needs of man.

James W. Farris