~~~ Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 115 ~~~ Matthew 9: 32-38 ~~~
"...Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd..."
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd..."
When the Olympic games are hosted in the US the official torch is lit and carried by runners throughout the country. The event is publicized and crowds of people come out to witness this moving event. There are interviews from those selected to carry the torch. The media devote prime time coverage of the event. For some reason this run creates a sense of pride and a sense of wel-being for our country.
Jesus was not carrying a special lit torch, but he too was moving through towns and villages. He was teaching in the synagogues not giving interviews.
He was reaching out to those who came to watch and listen.
There were no reporters making announcements about his arrival time
or the route he would take. Yet people found him and they told others
to come and see what this man called Jesus could do.
When the torch runner passes by the crowds along the street he or she
most likely feels honored to have been asked to carry this
symbol of the international games.
When Jesus passed by and saw the crowds he was looking at more
than just their faces. He was looking at their hearts too.
As he was going about his father's business of healing
his heart was moved with pity.
Pity...a sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy.
Jesus was expressing his feelings of sympathy for these poor people.
His capacity for empathy was far beyond what we could ever hope to attain.
Jesus could see the many who felt abandoned by others.
He could see those who had troubled hearts and minds.
Jesus realized that as only one person it was physically impossible for him
to get to all those who needed his healing touch.
Perhaps he was even a tad frustrated by his physical limitations.
On some occasions his compassion reached out beyond
those in his immediate presence.
Thinking of Jesus as an example of the highest human compassion
gives us something to emulate...to strive toward.
Jesus was a real human person not an idol created out of cold lifeless metal.
He was quite the opposite of the idol images that...
"...They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them..."
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them..."
Jesus was comparing himself by his words, deeds, and pity to their lifeless idols.
The false idols they had built would never be able to do
what he could do for the them.
He was the real thing!
Jesus could speak, see, hear, smell, feel, and walk.
Jesus could love from the depths of his being.
It was his love for others that drew people to follow him.
It was his compassion for the troubled that drew people to crowd along
the streets to wait for him.
He was flesh and blood...he could reach out and touch a soul in need.
Hold on to these stories of Jesus reaching out to those in need of his healing touch.
It is just these stories that will keep your faith alive.
Jesus is the real thing..there is no other like him!
