While Jesus was on the earth, he showed us what it means to have compassion. He talked to those no one else would. He taught people how to be kind to others. And he healed those that had lost all hope of ever being healed.
Luke 13:10-11- And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
There was once a poor woman that had been bowed over for 18 years. When she walked, all she could see was her feet. Others barely thought of this poor woman, but Jesus saw her while he was teaching in their worship building and He had compassion on her.
Luke 13:12-13- And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Jesus healed her and she began praising God! What do you think others in the area did when they saw this?
Luke 13:14-17- And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
The religious rulers were angry that Jesus healed her on the Sabbath day. They didn't think that it miracles should be done on their holy day. But, what better day to bring praise to God?
Jesus fussed at them for their lying ways. They themselves would let their animals out of the barn on the Sabbath day- that was considered work. All Jesus did was speak and let this woman stand up!
When Jesus reminded them of their morning chores they were ashamed. And, those who knew the woman and saw the miracle started worshiping God with her.
It wasn't only in the worship centers that Jesus would heal people. There was once a man that approached Him while He was walking. This man had the dreaded leprousy- the walking death.
Luke 5:12- And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
This man shouldn't have been in the city. He was suppose to live outside the city. Because of the leprousy, he wasn't allowed to be near his friends or family. He couldn't even shake their hand or give them a hug. He had to live alone.
It had been such a long time since the leper had felt even the touch of another person.
Luke 5:13-15- And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
The first time someone laid a hand on the leper in along time was the time Jesus had compassion and healed him. He could now go home to his family!
There was another time that Jesus was teaching and some men brought their friend to Him to be healed.
Mark 2:1-3- And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Jesus was preaching inside of a house. The house was packed, there were so many people that not another one could fit through the door!
Luke 5:17-18- And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
These men had brought their friend to Jesus, but they couldn't get him into the house. There were so many people! Perhaps the lame man thanked them, but told them not to worry about it. Maybe someone suggested giving up.
However it happened, someone had an idea!
Mark 2:4- And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Can you imagine? As Jesus was preaching, suddenly the roof started to be pulled away. Sunshine streamed through the hole in the ceiling. And then, something blocked the sun. It was slowly lowered into the room until everyone could see that it was a portable bed with a lame man on it.
Matthew 9:2- And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Jesus took note of the friend's faith. They knew that if they could get this man to Jesus that he would be healed. Sometimes, when we don't have faith we need to rely on the prayers of our faithful friends.
What an odd thing to say to someone who wanted to be healed! Your sins are forgiven.
Mark 2:6-7- But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
The religious rulers had learned not to outright rebuke Jesus. So, they kept their angry words inside. But, Jesus is God, and He can hear things even when we don't say them aloud!
Matthew 9:4-6- And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Jesus scolded them for their thoughts. He was not only able to heal the outside of the body, but He was able to forgive the wickedness on the inside, too. He could do that because He was God! The religious leaders just refused to acknowledge it.
Luke 5:25-26- And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
That man stood up, picked up his portable bed, and went home. He probably started out cautiously. But, in the end, I bet he was running and jumping and praising God!
Some of the people that saw this were afraid, they thought it strange that a man would rebuke the religious leaders, and then tell someone who was lame to walk. But, what was even more strange was that the man did walk!
Mark 2:12- And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Others were amazed at God's mercy on this man. They glorified God!
Mark 5:1- And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
Jesus and His disciples went across the Sea of Gallilee and then they got to the other side, there was a frightful sight awaiting them!
Matthew 8:28- And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
Two demon possessed men met Jesus and His disciples. I'm sure the disciples were afraid!
A man who would later write the book of Mark, described one of these wild, demonic men!
Mark 5:3-5- Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
What a horror!
But, Jesus wasn't afraid. He was God in the flesh. And the devils inside those two men knew it!
Luke 8:28-29- When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Jesus had told the devils to come out of the man, but they didn't want to leave. They pleaded with Jesus to let them stay.
Matthew 12:43- When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
They didn't want to wander in dry places. So, Jesus talked with the devils.
Mark 5:9- And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
These poor men were not possessed with just one or two devils, but with a legion of them. Do you know how much a legion is? It's 2,000!
Matthew 8:31- So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
The devils asked Jesus if He would let them go into the pigs that were there in the country. That way they wouldn't have to wander in dry places.
Mark 5:13-14- And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
Jesus allowed the devils to enter into the pigs. And the moment they went into the pigs, they made the pigs run down a steep hill into the sea. And, all the pigs drowned.
The men that were watching the pigs were afraid and ran to the city to tell everyone what had happened.
Matthew 8:33- And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
Now, God had commanded the Jews was back during the time of Moses that they weren't suppose to eat pork. So, why were there pigs in the country? Why were they raising them?
Those in the city were curious to see if what these pig farmers said was true.
Luke 8:35-36- Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
They went out and saw the two men sitting at Jesus feet. The men that they had tried to bind in chains, but they would break the chains and escape. The men that had cried and screeched in the night and woke their children with fright! These men were now clothed and sitting and behaving themselves.
Do you suppose the villagers thanked Jesus?
They didn't.
Matthew 8:34- And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Instead of thanking Him, they asked Him to leave.
Surely, someone could think of a friend or family member that could be healed by Jesus!
But, perhaps, they only thought of how much money they just lost when their pigs drowned themselves!
Luke 8:37- Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
The whole country asked Him to leave.
So, Jesus turned around and went back to the ship He had just got off.
Mark 5:18-20- And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
The now healed demon possessed wanted to go with Jesus. But, Jesus had a job for them. He needed someone who could tell others about the mercy of God.
Someone needed to show that the Messiah had come. Someone that the villagers would listen to.
These men did just that! And, the next time Jesus came to their shores, they accepted Him and heard His teachings.
Jesus wants us to tell others about Him. You may think that you're too little. Or, maybe you think no one would listen. But, there's someone who needs to hear about Jesus from you.
And, who knows how many souls you can lead to the compassionate Savior if you just try!
