A Lesson From the Life of Judas
Christ had compassion for suffering humanity. Wherever He went and saw the people in need, He sought to help, to relieve suffering, to comfort, and to bless those around Him.
Let us read about an example illustrating this point:
“And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They 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” (Matthew 20:30-34, emphasis supplied).
There are so many examples in the Bible about Christ’s compassion for suffering humanity:
“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not” (Luke 7:13, emphasis supplied).
“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, emphasis supplied).
“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way” (Matthew 15:32, emphasis supplied).
“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, emphasis supplied).
Doesn’t this sound like the condition the world finds itself today - without a shepherd? What is our attitude towards the “much people” who are like sheep, not being guided by the Shepherd? Are we judgmental towards them? Do we have a “better-than-thou” attitude toward them? Do we despise them for their situation?
Do we know how to approach a person in need? We may turn people away from the truth and from Christ by our supposed zeal for the truth if we act without tact. We need to learn from Christ and move as He moved, speak as He spoke, and refrain from certain comments - sometimes even any comments - when it is not appropriate to use them.
When someone in need comes to our church or calls us asking for some food for the family, do we take this opportunity and try to introduce him or her to Christ? Since we may be buying some food for the family, do we try to introduce him or her to vegetarianism? What would Christ do? What did Christ do in such situations?
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”1
We read above that “the Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good.” What is the key word here?
“Mingled”: What kind of word is this? It is a verb. It implies action. What kind of action?
What does this word mean? It means to become acquainted, to get to know people, to associate with people, to make friends.
We have much learning to do here.
If you come to church and, during the fellowship meal, sit by yourself in a corner with only your family and/or close friends and don’t mingle, you are not associating. If you always sit with the same person all the time, you are not mingling. We must learn to mingle and associate even among ourselves, among those whom we already know.
What does “As one who desired their good” mean? It means to show a genuine interest in him or her as a person.
It does not mean that we are always talking about ourselves. In fact, it means the very opposite. We are to listen to people.
“The afflicted ones who came to [Jesus] felt that He linked His interest with theirs as a faithful and tender friend, and they desired to know more of the truths He taught.”2
“He showed His sympathy for them.” He had compassion for people. Show that you care about them, for their good. To show sympathy does not mean that you must agree with what they do. Sympathy does not mean condemnation either.
Sympathy means understanding. Sympathy means to put yourself “in their shoes.” Sympathy means compassion.
Christ was a compassionate person. He had compassion for the people.
When someone tells you “I am struggling with cigarette smoking,” what should you say?
“I don’t smoke.”
“I would never touch that stuff.”
“Don’t you know that smoking causes cancer?”
“That will kill you.”
Statements like these will only discourage the person!
What should you say instead? Say something with compassion. Say: “It must be very hard for you.” Say some encouraging words, like: “I also had struggles in my life in a different area, and by the grace of God, I have overcome. God is able to give you the victory, too.” Say something that will give them HOPE.
“The sympathy that Christ ever expressed for the physical needs of His hearers won from many a response to the truths He sought to teach.”3
Christ did not say to the multitude, “If you promise to follow me, I will feed you.” Christ first healed, then He told them “follow Me” or “go and sin no more.”
The servant of the Lord says: “To every student who is seeking a medical education I would say, Look beyond the present. Turn away from the transitory things of this life, from selfish pursuits and gratifications. For what purpose are you seeking an education? Is it not that you may relieve suffering humanity?”4
You cannot present doctrines to someone who is hungry, or to someone who has some deep sorrow or pain or special needs.
When you show real concern for people, you may win their confidence. This is an excerpt from an e-mail I recently received:
“Hi! please, could you help me?
. . . I need someone I can trust and who can help me to raise up!!!”
“Give some of your leisure hours to your children; associate with them in their work and in their sports, and win their confidence. Cultivate their friendship.”5
“The youth are the objects of Satan’s special attacks; but kindness, courtesy, that tender sympathy that flows from a heart filled with love to Jesus, will give you access to them. You may win their confidence so that they will listen to your words, and thus be saved from many a snare of the enemy.”6
“As you win [the children’s] confidence in you as followers of Christ, it will be easy to teach them of the great love wherewith He has loved us.”7
“Wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message, [Christ] unfolded the truths of the way of salvation.”8
“Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Master. You can never give Him as much as He has given you. He gave His life for you. What have you given for Him?”9
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people.”10
Are you ready to follow the Master today?