Compassion

I saw a commercial on TV. A former Drill Sergeant, who became a therapist, was counseling a patient. As the patient was describing his feelings, the Sergeant started on a rant and ended by throwing a box of tissues at the man and said, “Cry Baby!” I laughed at the commercial because I identified with the Sergeant. There have been times as I listen to people talk, I want to yell, “Get on with life! Stop your whining and crying! Get away from me! Leave me alone!”

This is also why I see myself in the crowd in Matthew 20:29-34, when they scolded the blind men and told them to, “Be quiet!” as they were crying out to Jesus. Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. In the midst of all this commotion, Jesus called the blind men and asked them how He could help. Isn’t that amazing? In the midst of all the excitement, confusion, and frenzy that surrounded Him, Jesus heard their cries.

Then after Jesus called them to Himself, Scripture has some words that convict me. The Bible says, “Jesus had compassion on them…” This is not the first time in the Gospel of Matthew that my heart has been pierced. Earlier, Matthew records, “When He [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (9:36).

I don’t see people the same way that Jesus sees people. This is why all too often my initial response is not compassion and I think I understand why. My friend Colt calls it spiritual amnesia.

As I confess my lack of charity, I also identify with the blind men. I remember clearly crying out, “LORD, have mercy on me!” The funny (not funny, ha-ha) thing about this is that it’s not something that happened to me years ago, but it’s something that I do on a daily basis. Even more ironic is that I beg for His mercy numerous times during the course of a day. Every time that I’ve cried out to Jesus, He’s always responded to me with compassion.

Maybe the next time I remember the Sergeant asking his patient, “Tissue?” and before I start laughing at his response, I’ll hear Jesus saying, “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” (Revelation 2:4-5). Hopefully, I will not only fall to my knees and ask Him for forgiveness, but I also hope to remember to thank Him for His continual mercy and join the once blind men along with the crowds in following Him.