Walking with My Lord: Jesus felt compassion.

Listen to this devotion

Jesus felt compassion. We do, too.

In the Word

Jesus wept (John 11:35).

Of the Word

Jesus, our Brother, felt the same emotions we feel. He felt pity, sympathy, compassion. He expressed His feelings by caring and loving actions. Sometimes He cried. When He saw how His friends, Mary and Martha of Bethany, grieved for their dead brother, He wept.

What meaning for our own lives can we find in the tears of Jesus? It’s okay to cry. If our Lord Himself emptied the contents of His heart this way, then we who are His disciples, His brothers and sisters, will also feel deeply for one another. Sometimes we’ll cry. We will, in fact, live as St. Paul encourages us: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12–14).

A second look at Paul’s words reveals that compassion is more than “feeling sorry” for others. It may mean forgiving generously and graciously as well. That’s how Jesus showed His compassion most clearly for us!