The Compassion of Christ | Tuesday
Devotional
Imagine standing at the edge of your hope, like the widow of Nain. Her tears weren’t just for her son, but
for her future, her security, her place in society. Everything was lost. Then Jesus approaches. His first
response? Compassion. Before performing any miracle, before speaking any word of power, Jesus feels deeply for her suffering.
“When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her.” This isn’t casual sympathy or polite concern. The
original language suggests a gut-wrenching emotion, a feeling so powerful it physically affects the one
who experiences it. Jesus wasn’t merely sorry for her—He felt her pain as if it were His own.
Then He says something that might initially seem insensitive: “Don’t weep.” But these weren’t empty words from a detached observer. They were a promise from the One who had both the power and the intention to transform her situation. Jesus wasn’t saying, “Your tears are inappropriate.” He was saying, “Your tears are about to become unnecessary.”
This same compassionate Christ walks with us today. He doesn’t stand at a distance from our pain. He enters it. He feels it. And He speaks hope into it, not because He wants us to deny our suffering, but because He intends to redeem it. When Jesus says, “Don’t weep,” it’s because He’s already working on turning our mourning into dancing.
Bible Verse
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort
we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Reflection Question
When was the last time you truly allowed yourself to receive Christ’s compassion rather than trying to be strong on your own? How might fully embracing His comfort change how you face your current challenges?
Quote
When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, don’t weep. Can you imagine if that was your family member, your son, your situation? And somebody comes up to you, whether they’re a rabbi or not, but somebody comes up to you and says, hey, stop your crying.
Prayer
Compassionate Savior, thank You for not standing distant from my pain but entering right into it. Help me to receive Your comfort fully, not just intellectually but deep in my heart. Teach me to rest in Your compassion rather than striving in my own strength. Use me to extend this same comfort to others who are hurting. Amen.