Wonderful Deeds of Jesus--#1

Jesus' Miracles of Compassion

Hopewell Church of Christ

January 2, 2000

"The former treatise (Luke's Gospel) have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach." (Acts 1:1.)

There are two remarkable things about Jesus that distinguish him from all other humans that ever have lived. They are the things that he did and his wonderful teachings. Luke told Theophilus that he reported to him all things that Jesus began both to do and to teach. These two things are related and cannot be separated in the life-story of Jesus. His deeds are based upon who He is and his deeds make his teachings believable.

No one would believe that Jesus is divine unless he could do the deeds of a Divine Being. We reject the claims of others because their deeds do not match their claims. With Jesus, there is perfect harmony between his deeds and his teachings. In large measure, we believe his teachings because of his deeds.

Some place a great deal of emphasis upon the order that Luke used. He placed the things that Jesus began to do first, then what he taught. However, the story Luke told shows that you have an intermingling of the two. All of his wonderful deeds did not come before he taught anything. He began early to teach, Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Even as a young man, he taught the doctors in the temple. They were astonished at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47.)

There are many deeds of Jesus recorded in the gospels. In the following messages, I want to put his deeds in separate categories for us to consider. The first category is his deeds or miracles of compasssion.

One Greek word for compassion, splagchnizomai, means inward sympathy, feelings that arise from within. A root word is the word for spleen, which means the seat of emotions or passions. Another word, metriopatheo, means to treat moderately in passion, or be gentle, have compassion. Often the gospels say that Jesus was moved by compassion toward people.

"And when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." (Matthew 9:36.)

"Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently (compassion, KJV) with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people." (Heb. 5:1-3, NIV.)

Miracles of Compassion from Luke

Here is a list of the many miracles recorded by Luke. The number of them is remarkable and impressive. Often in the midst of giving one detailed record of someone being healed, Luke will stop and write that many were healed of divers diseases. This lets us know that there were many others in addition to the named. In like manner, John wrote near the end of his Gospel, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name." (John 20:30-31.)

* Luke 4:33-37 "man with unclean spirit in the synagogue"

* Luke 4:38-39 "Peter's mother-in-law sick with a fever"

* Luke 4:40 "divers diseases; healed them every one"

* Luke 4:41 "devils cast out; knew he was the Christ"

* Luke 4:42 "people pleaded with Jesus not to leave them, but he said that he must preach in other cities also"

* Luke 5:1-9 "Launch out into the deep; caught many fish"

* Luke 5:12-14 "healed man of leprosy"

* Luke 5:15 "great multitudes healed by him of their infirmities"

* Luke 5:18-26 "palsied man healed & forgiven"

"And they were all amazed and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today." (Luke 5:26.)

* Luke 6:6-11 "man with withered hand; healed on the Sabbath"

* Luke 7:1-10 "centurion's servant healed"

* Luke 7:11-15 "widow's son raised"

* Luke 7:18-25 --reply to John the Baptist's question, Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another?" (6:19)

"Go your way and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." (7:22.) This statement is significant. The miracles of compassion upon the sick and dying were not insignificant things that Jesus did. Some think that the miracles were just to get people to listen to the Gospel. If that were true, then Jesus would not have healed anyone who would reject his message. He knew their hearts. He knew the ones who would respond. His miracles were done out of compassion and love, just as the preaching of the Gospel. Jesus did them because he had the power to do them; he was God among men. He did them because he cared about the sick and dying.

* Luke 8:2 "Mary Magdalene was healed of seven devils"

* Luke 8:22-25 "calmed the storm"

* Luke 8:26-40 "Legion cast out of a man into swine"

* Luke 8:41-42, 49-56 "Jairus' daughter raised from the dead"

* Luke 8:43-48 "woman with an issue of blood for 12 years" (Note: This story is inserted in the midst of the other; Jesus was walking to Jairus' house when this woman approached him.)

* Luke 9:11 "taught and healed many"

* Luke 9:13-17 "5000 fed"

* Luke 9:37-43 "man with a son who the disciples could not heal; Jesus did" (Note: Many were being healed because the disciples had the power to heal others as well. On one occasion Jesus sent out 70 disciples with miraculous power.)

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:19-20.)

* Luke 11:14 "a devil was cast out; the dumb spake"

* Luke 13:11-13 "Woman bowed over toward the ground with an infirmity for 18 years. When healed she stood straight; healed on the Sabbath."

* Luke 17:11-19 "ten lepers healed; one returned to thank the Lord"

* Luke 18:35-43 "a blind man healed"

* Luke 22:50-51 "healed the ear of the servant of the high priest after Peter cut it off with a sword." (Note: Someone said that there was at least one believer among the those who arrested Jesus that night. The one with the restored ear!)

Things Jesus did out of compassion

1) He became their (our) Shepherd. "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34.) Jesus shepherded by teaching. His compassion compelled him to reach out and help the multitudes. Jesus came to earth in the very first place because of his love and compassion for lost man. The good things that he taught were filled with grace and a readiness to forgive fallen man. His teaching and what he taught was done out of compassion.

2) He healed the sick. "And Jesus went forth and saw a multitude and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." (Matt. 14:14.) "They (two blind men) say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes and immediately their eyes received sight and they followed him." (Matt. 20:33-34.) "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him and kneeling down to him and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." (Mark 1:40-41.)

"And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." (Mark 7:37.)

3) He cast out demons. The man who was possessed with Legion was healed. The devils were cast into a herd of swine. The man desired to enter the fishing boat with Jesus, but Jesus did not allow him. "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, God home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (Mark 5:19.) "And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters to destroy him. But if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us." (Mark 9:22.)

4) He forgave debts. "The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. . . Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?" (Matt. 18:27, 32-33.)

"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. And bring forth the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry." (Luke 15:20-24.)

". . . that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." (Heb. 5:1-2.)

5) He raised the dead. "Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the coffin, and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." (Luke 7:11-14.)

1) The miracles were not incidental in Jesus' life. If Jesus wanted only to teach a message, he consumed a lot of that time by healing people and performing supernatural acts. Much of the gospels are taken up by giving that record. Neither were they done just for our reading today. Indeed that record is important for building faith today, but my point is that Jesus performed these healing miracles out of compassion for those hurt and dying. He did not heal someone as an incentive for them to obey the Gospel. Ten lepers were healed; only one turned back to give thanks. Jesus healed all ten knowing what their reaction would be. Jesus died on the cross knowing that the majority would never listen to message; they would never love him for doing it. He died for mankind out of an agape love that does not look for a return. The miracles of healing were miracles of compassion.

2) The physical teaches us about the spiritual. "But the scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." (Luke 5:30-31.) Everywhere Jesus went there were people with various infirmities. There were the blind, the deaf, lepers, people filled with demons, mental illnesses, various diseases and deformities of the body and mind.

Jesus answered the scribes and Pharisees that he was with the publicans and sinners because they needed help. Those who are well need not a physician, but those who are sick. There were sick people everywhere. There are sinners everywhere. If Jesus could not heal the physical ailments, how could he ever heal the soul? Jesus had compassion on the whole man, body, soul, and spirit. The miracles of compassion taught us a valuable lesson about our needs. Our minds need help from God; our spirit needs to be made free from kinds of bondage; our souls need to be cleansed; our bodies are often filled with pain. God is the great physician.

3) We should be compassionate like Jesus. "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34.) One preacher said that there are three parts to this story which teaches us also how to do good unto others: he came; he saw; and he had compassion. We should not wait until others come to us. We should go. When we are among people, we should look at their needs. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others." (Phil. 2:4.) Then he had compassion and helped.

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." (1 Peter 3:8.)

"But whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17.) We cannot perform miracles like Jesus did, but we are told what we can do. If we have this world's good, we should share them with others.

"And of some have compassion, making a difference; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 22.) We should teach others out of compassion for their lost condition, like Jesus did.