“When he went ashore he saw a
great crowd, and he had compassion
for them and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:1

Compassion

Healing was a vital part of Jesus’
earthly ministry. Everywhere he went
people followed him, begging for
mercy, for they had faith that he had
the power to heal them. Jesus
empathized deeply with human misery
and suffering. He was moved
with compassion. Compassion has
been defined as “suffering with
another, to be tender and merciful in
their distress and misfortunes.

”
Often Jesus was able to cure people
by using medical techniques that
were known to be effective in his day.
Human spittle was said to have curative
powers, and mixed with mud and
spread on the eyes, it was often used
to treat blindness, which was a common
ailment in Jesus day. Afterwards
he would tell them to go and rinse in
the clear waters of the pool of
Siloam. Now doctors use surgery,
eye drops and laser beams to treat
eye problems. But while modern
medicine can bring about a cure for
the body, compassion heals the soul.
The two go hand in hand. By entering
into another person’s pain, by providing
a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic
ear, and an understanding heart
we, too, have the power to heal, and
when we show compassion we have
the power of God working through
us.

gracedeacon@gwi.net