Daily Devotional For Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Good morning. I am often amazed at Jesus’ compassion and tenderness for people in the Scriptures. For example, in Mark 10 Jesus rebuked His own disciples who tried to keep children away from Him. In Jesus’ days rabbis shunned children because what they were doing was too important to be bothered or interrupted by children. He taught them that He came to be the Messiah and God’s Savior to everyone, including children. What compassion and tenderness Jesus had.
In Mark 5, Jesus healed a woman who had an issue of hemorrhaging. This would have kept her isolated and away from the community. This was based on Leviticus 15:25-27. She didn’t directly ask Jesus to heal her, but she did work her way through the crowds thinking if she only touched the hem of His robe she would be healed. Her faith was so significant that she was healed and Jesus praised her for her faith. This meant now that she would be restored to her community. To be ceremonially unclean meant you had to be isolated from the Jewish community until the medical issue was resolved. What compassion and tenderness Jesus had.
Also in Mark 5, Jesus healed a Jewish synagogue leader’s daughter. His name was Jairus. Jesus had been summoned to come and heal her because she was at the point of death. While dealing with the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years, Jairus’ daughter died. People told him not to bother Jesus any more. Jesus did not listen to them. Taking 3 of His disciples, Peter, James and John with him into the home, Jesus amidst huge unbelief and hopelessness brought the 12-year-old girl back to life. What compassion and tenderness Jesus had.
In Mark 7, Jesus healed a man who had gone deaf and as a result was now both deaf and mute. Not deaf and dumb! I hate that description because deaf people are not dumb. I was a certified interpreter for the deaf (CID) for years. I was also a pastor to the deaf for 2 years in Louisville, Kentucky through what was then called The Home Mission Board. Today it is called The North American Mission Board. The reason they do not talk as well as us is that speaking is based on hearing how you sound. Some of the most intelligent people I have ever met were deaf and mute. As soon as Jesus healed this man of his deafness, he miraculously began to speak with perfect speech. Remember, this man had not done that until now. What compassion and tenderness Jesus had.
In John 4, Jesus healed the son of a Roman official and in John 6, Jesus fed over 5,000 men with just five loaves of bread and two fish the size of sardines. If you add in the woman and children, that comes to 15-20,00 people. What compassion and tenderness Jesus had. In Mark 2, Jesus is teaching in a home and 4 friends of a lame man decide they are going to get their friend to Jesus. With every entrance blocked due to the number of people, they carried their friend on a mat up to the top of the roof by the stairs outside of it. They then proceeded to cut a hole in the roof and then lowered their lame friend right in front of Jesus.
Can you imagine this scene? Jesus is teaching and all of a sudden, parts of the roof start falling down in the room. All of a sudden, sunlight breaks forth into the room. Without warning, a lame man is lowered in front of Jesus. Did Jesus get mad that He was interrupted? No. Seeing the faith of his 4 friends, Jesus healed this lame man. He picked up his own mat and walked out to the amazement of everyone. We are not told if the owner of the house got mad about the damage done to his roof, or even if the 4 friends repaired the roof later, but one thing is clear here. I am amazed at the compassion and tenderness of Jesus.
The Gospels are clear that Jesus had compassion and tenderness for people who were in physical, emotional and spiritual duress. In Mark 9, Jesus heals a young boy possessed by a demon or demons. Look for a moment at this in Mark 9:20-27:
“So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. (21) ‘How long has this been happening?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, ‘Since he was a little boy. (22) The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.’ (23) ‘What do you mean, ‘If I can’?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ (24) The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’ (25) When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. ‘Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,’ he said. ‘I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!’ (26) Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, ‘He’s dead.’ ( 27) But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up” (NLT).
Can you imagine the physical disfigurement this little had because the demon would throw him into fire and then into water to drown him. To this father and his son, I am amazed at the compassion and tenderness of Jesus. In Mark 3, Jesus healed a man with a deformed hand. We are not told if this was a birth defect or from some accident or from an injury by his own actions, but nevertheless, Jesus healed this man. I am amazed at the compassion and tenderness of Jesus. In Mark 5, Jesus cast out numerous demons in a man that entered 2,000 pigs, plunging them over a cliff to their deaths. I am amazed at the compassion and tenderness of Jesus.
In Mark 7, a Gentile woman brought her demon possessed daughter to Jesus for healing. In Mark 8, Jesus healed a blind man. I am amazed at the compassion and tenderness of Jesus. It didn’t matter if you were Jewish, Gentile, male or female, a child or an adult, He showed compassion and tenderness to everyone. Do you see a pattern by Mark in his Gospel about Jesus? Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus being compassionate and tender to people from all walks of life. In a world like ours, where so many feel at times, used and discarded, our Lord looks upon such people with compassion and tenderness. To Jesus, people are far more important that programs, policies, procedures, politics and problems. Shouldn’t we be the same?
In all of these, Jesus was busy and in almost each one, He was interrupted by someone to heal someone. Being like Christ means we are not so much in our “box” that we box everyone else out, especially those in need. If you look, you will see them. If you listen, you will hear them. If you show compassion and tenderness, you will bless them for Christ.
Assignment: This week find someone who needs some compassion and tenderness from you. In most of the stories above, these people were social and religious outcasts. Shunned by their communities and get away due to fear and embarrassment. Look around at your work, or school or neighborhood, who needs the compassion and tenderness of Jesus through you? Some of these you may feel do not deserve it. But as a child of Christ, that is not your call. It is His. So, choose compassion over judgment and humility over pride.
Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 3:12, Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy and compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (PAR).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, help me see those around me who need Your compassion and tenderness as You did when You were here. God, help me not to act blind and deaf to their distress. Help me not to be so focused on my own agenda that I miss Your agenda. Use me God to Your instrument to someone for the glory of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly