Compassion Among the Multitudes

By Karen Padgett

“When my love for man grows weak…” Whenever I sing these words with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am always convicted by this very honest verse. As natural beings, we tend to complicate our love for fellow man. It waxes and wanes, often led by feelings of fatigue or frustration, rather than feelings of compassion. Simply put, compassion is the capacity to see and meet needs, and it is an immensely important attribute of God’s nature. In fact, “compassionate” is the first adjective of many which God used to describe Himself in detail on Mt. Sinai to His people in Exodus 34. It is a refrain repeatedly used in scripture thereafter because of its significance. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “compassion” is related to the womb. God chose this word carefully to communicate that, above all of His attributes, He is a tender, nurturing parent, who sees the suffering of His children, and is prepared to do something about it. 

So He became compassion incarnate, coming to Earth for the blind to receive sight and the lame to walk, the lepers to be cleansed and the deaf to hear, the dead to be raised up, and the poor to have the gospel preached to them (Matthew 11:5). In Jesus Christ, we see a flawless example of compassion for fellow man. 

One might expect this Immanuel, “God with us,” to be angry and frustrated at every turn as He walked along this fallen world. And while there were appropriate moments for His righteous indignation towards the merciless and hypocritical, Christ continually looked upon humanity with compassion. Matthew 9:36 tells us that Jesus “felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” He saw multitudes in overwhelming physical and spiritual need and was moved. We see this compassion no more perfectly illustrated than in the feeding of the 5,000, carefully documented in all four gospels. 

The four accounts piece together the scene of a grieved Savior and exhausted apostles. They had returned from their missionary circuit, likely bringing with them the news of John the Baptist’s execution. This was no doubt distressing to Jesus, knowing that it meant a political shift in the reception of His ministry, along with the natural feelings of sadness one would have for the death of a dear family member. But there was no time for grief or rest.  Mark 6:31 explains that “they did not even have time to eat” with the “many people coming and going” to see them! 

So the text tells us that they withdrew on a boat to a secluded place to rest, yet, they found none. The people, eager for healings and signs, followed, wanting more. And instead of a natural response of irritation or excuses, which many would have understood considering the circumstances, Jesus “saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them” (Mt. 13:14). He welcomed them. And He began to speak “to them about the kingdom of God” and cure “those who had need of healing” (Luke 9:11). In this, we see our Lord sacrificially put His immediate needs aside to meet the needs of others.

But, the neediness did not stop; a demanding crowd of thousands soon accumulated! Jesus spent the day teaching and healing the impromptu spectators. Evening fell, and the people had nothing to eat, nor was there anywhere close by to get food. And our Lord prepared to meet their needs once more. The first three gospels indicate that the apostles first noticed the need for food (or rather the need to send the people away.) But John’s gospel indicates a deeper, more purposeful motivation for what happens next. John 6:6 allows us a peek into Christ’s mind: “...for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.” After a barrage of objections from the apostles, Jesus has them inventory their supplies: five barley loaves and two fish. And before their eyes, Jesus breaks it, blesses it, and then proceeds to feed more than 5,000 souls. The result? The people were not only filled (John 6:12); they believed (John 6:14). This miracle was not just an act of pity, but rather, an intentional act of compassion. In doing so, our Savior revealed His divine nature as the “bread of life” (John 6:35), providing sustenance for their weak bodies momentarily, and promising spiritual nourishment forever. 

As a people who have “put on Christ” (Romans 13:14), we too must “put on a heart of compassion” (Col. 3:12-13) to see and meet the physical and spiritual needs of others. But it is easier said than done. There are just so many needs! Returning to Mathew 9:36, Jesus felt compassion for the people “because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” There is no better description for the world around us, full of both material and spiritual poverty. So often, in the abundance of needs, our reaction can be to grow apathetic or fatigued. Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is so weak (Mt. 26:41). We can even experience what those in the medical field often call “compassion fatigue.” The disciples certainly experienced it.

In the synoptic gospel accounts, when the apostles approached Jesus with the concern of food, Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat!” That’s a pretty tall order for 12 exhausted humans with limited resources. Their ensuing excuses indicate their indignation. Pardon the paraphrasing, but they tell the Savior: “We’re out in the middle of nowhere!” “It’s getting late!” “They need to take care of their own needs!” (Mt. 14:15) “We don’t have enough food!” (Mt. 14:17) “We don’t have enough money!” (Jn. 6:7) “It’s too expensive!” (Mk. 6:37). Personally, I can’t even get upset at the apostles for these responses. If I’m being honest, I use them daily in my dealings with the four small children under my own roof! 

What the Twelve forgot, and what I frequently forget, is that none of us are expected to miraculously feed thousands. We are expected to compassionately see the needs of those around us, whether physical or spiritual, take inventory of what we have, present it before the Lord, and let Him “give the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6). We do so in faith that He can multiply our meager loaves and fishes when they are presented before Him with hearts bursting with compassion. Sometimes our compassion will lead to great acts. And sometimes “even a cup of cold water” is useful to the Lord (Mt. 10:42).

We also must not forget that we were once “distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” And in the ultimate act of compassion, Christ was willingly executed on a Roman cross on Mt. Calvary, so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have hope of eternal life. He saw our need, and He sacrificially and purposefully met it. In Him, we have the “bread of life” forever. 

We have no excuses to refuse our compassion on others when we have been given such a precious gift. And while Jesus graciously modeled physical and spiritual rest on occasion, we must try to make the most of every opportunity, sacrificially and purposefully acting on compassion for others. In doing so, we reflect the very nature of God. And when we feel our compassion for man inevitably wane, we look to the cross for renewal. “When my love for man grows weak, when for deeper faith I seek, hill of Calvary I go, to Thy scenes of fear and woe.”