I recently read this book called A Glimpse of Jesus – The Stranger to Self-Hatred by Brennan Manning. random side note: I actually finished it the same day Manning passed away. random.
at one point, Manning says, “Biblically, compassion means action.”
I guess I hadn’t really thought about what the word “compassion” means before. if you would’ve asked me to define it, I probably would’ve said it meant having a strong love/mercy for other people/things. I know, super profound definition. that’s how I roll.
But “compassion means action”? I sat and thought about it. and then I pulled out my big honkin’ concordance (yes, it’s the one with a crashing ocean wave on the front – would you expect any different?). suddenly I had an urge to study this statement.
so I looked up the word “compassion” and specifically looked at all the times it was associated with Jesus:
-Matt. 14:14 –> Jesus had compassion and healed the sick.
-Matt. 15:32 –> Jesus had compassion and fed the hungry crowd of 4,000 with 7 loaves and a few small fish.
-Matt. 20:34 –> Jesus had compassion and healed the 2 blind men.
-Mark 1:41 –> Jesus was filled with compassion and healed the man w/leprosy.
-Mark 6:34 –> Jesus had compassion on the large crowd of 5,000 because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them and then fed them with 5 loaves and 2 small fish.
-Luke 15:20 –> The father was filled with compassion and welcomed his prodigal son home with great celebration.
every instance of Jesus and this word “compassion” was connected with action. no, like really – every instance. it wasn’t that He saw these people in need and thought, “oh, I feel bad for that person” – no. He acted upon that deep compulsion to show mercy.
ok let’s take it 1 step deeper. that’s right, I’m goin’ Greek on ya. gettin’ my Greek on.
the Greek word for “compassion” used in all the above Scripture is “splanchnizomai” – which looks like a totally fun word to try and say. it means “to have compassion on, to have pity on” – ok, not really profound. BUT – directly under that word is the word “splanchnon”, which Manning said is the root of splanchnizomai or related to it or…oh, something like that.
“splanchnon” means: inward parts of body; intestines; of emotion
it implies that this compassion Jesus was filled with was a deep emotion coming from the innermost parts of His body, deep within His gut. He was so wrecked with this compulsion to relieve suffering that He had to do something.
and look what true compassion drove Him to do! He performed miracles! He did amazing things, to the glory of His Father! and just as the father was moved with compassion to throw his prodigal son an extravagant celebration, so the Father rejoices when one lost child returns to Him!
it was true, authentic compassion that drove Jesus to the greatest act of compassion ever known to man – He was crucified, died, and rose again to conquer death, sin, hell…all for us to have this incredible gift of being adopted as the very sons and daughters of the Living God should we choose to believe in Him and accept this free, amazing, incomparable gift.
as we are to follow in the footsteps of the Messiah, so should we show compassion to others. may we be seeking to be ever-growing in our sensitivity to the needs of those around us. may our hearts match the heart of our Savior. may we be moved in the very depths of our being to acts of mercy and grace – and may we act.
compassion means action.
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