Jesus' Compassion: Love in Action for the Outcast

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Is Not Only Able, He Is Willing

Many people believe that God is powerful and able to do anything, but they struggle to believe that He is also willing to help and heal. The story of the leper in Mark 1 shows us that Jesus is not just able, but He is eager to reach out, touch, and restore those who come to Him in faith. The leper’s plea, “If you are willing, you can make me clean,” is met with Jesus’ compassionate response, “I am willing. Be clean!” This reveals the heart of Christ—a Savior who desires to meet us in our need, not just with power, but with a willingness to act on our behalf. [06:24]

Mark 1:40-42 (NIV)
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus was filled with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you believe God is able but have doubted whether He is willing? Bring that area to Jesus today and ask Him to show you His willingness to meet your need.

Day 2: The Compassion of Jesus Moves Us to Action

Compassion is more than just feeling sorry for someone or even understanding their pain; it is a deep, inner movement that leads to action. Jesus’ compassion was not passive—He reached out and touched the untouchable, breaking social and religious barriers to bring healing and hope. True compassion, as modeled by Jesus, compels us to step beyond sympathy and empathy and to tangibly love and serve those who are hurting, even when it is uncomfortable or risky. [10:51]

Mark 1:41 (NIV)
Jesus was filled with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Reflection: Who in your life is “untouchable” or overlooked? What is one specific action you can take this week to show them the compassion of Jesus?

Day 3: The Difference Between Sympathy, Empathy, and Compassion

It is natural to feel sympathy when we see someone suffering, and empathy allows us to connect more deeply when we have shared similar experiences. But compassion goes further—it is the force that moves us to do something about another’s pain. God often allows us to experience hardship so that we can comfort others with the comfort we have received, turning our empathy into compassionate action that reflects Christ’s love. [09:58]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
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.

Reflection: Think of a time when God comforted you in a difficult season. How can you use that experience to bring comfort and compassion to someone else today?

Day 4: Receiving Compassion Before Giving Compassion

Before we can truly show compassion to others, we must first receive the compassion of Jesus for ourselves. Like the man with leprosy or the wounded traveler in the story of the Good Samaritan, we all need to be touched, healed, and made whole by Christ. When we allow Jesus to minister to our wounds and pour His love into our hearts, we are then equipped to go out and share that same compassion with those around us. [22:39]

Luke 10:33-34 (NIV)
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to receive Jesus’ compassion and healing today? Take a moment to invite Him to touch and restore you so you can share His love with others.

Day 5: The Compassion of Jesus Transforms the Church

When the compassion of Jesus fills our hearts, it changes the way we see and treat others, breaking down judgmental attitudes and religious barriers. Instead of keeping our distance or looking down on those who are different, we are moved to love, embrace, and serve one another as Christ has loved us. A church marked by the compassion of Jesus becomes a place of healing, acceptance, and genuine community, reflecting God’s heart to the world. [16:32]

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Reflection: How can you help create a culture of compassion in your church or community this week? What is one practical way you can break down barriers and show Christlike love to someone who may feel excluded?

Sermon Summary

Today, we opened our Bibles to Mark chapter 1 to reflect on the true nature of Jesus, focusing especially on His compassion. So often, the world presents a distorted image of Christ—one that is weak, uncertain, or detached. But the Scriptures paint a very different picture: Jesus, anointed by God, moved with power, always doing good, healing, and delivering those oppressed by darkness. Wherever He went, He brought hope, truth, and love. In Mark 1, we see a powerful example of this as a man with leprosy approaches Jesus, not questioning His ability, but His willingness to heal. Jesus, filled with compassion, reaches out and touches the untouchable, declaring, “I am willing. Be clean.” Instantly, the man is healed.

This act of compassion stands in stark contrast to the attitudes of the religious leaders and the culture of the day. Leprosy was not just a physical ailment but a social sentence—those afflicted were isolated, forced to live outside the community, and treated as outcasts. The law required them to announce their uncleanness, to live in rags, and to keep their distance. Yet Jesus, unmoved by fear or social stigma, draws near and touches the man, breaking through barriers of isolation and judgment.

We explored the difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Sympathy feels bad for someone; empathy feels with someone, often because of shared experience. But compassion goes further—it moves us to action. Compassion is what compelled Jesus to touch the leper, to heal, to restore, and to love. It is not enough to feel for others; we are called to act, to reach out, to make a difference.

Before we can truly show compassion to others, we must first receive the compassion of Jesus ourselves. Like the Good Samaritan, Jesus finds us in our brokenness, heals us, and restores us—not because of religion, but because of His deep love for us. As we receive His compassion, we are transformed and empowered to extend that same compassion to those around us. In a world marked by isolation and fear, especially as we emerge from seasons of separation, we are called to be people who reach out, who touch, who love, and who make a difference—just as Jesus did.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is not only able but willing to meet us in our need. The leper’s question was not about Christ’s power, but His willingness—and Jesus responded with a resounding “I am willing.” This reveals the heart of God: He desires to heal, restore, and touch our lives, not from a distance, but up close and personal. [06:24]
2. Compassion is more than sympathy or empathy; it is love in action. While sympathy feels bad and empathy feels with, compassion moves us to do something tangible for others. True Christlike compassion breaks through barriers, reaches the untouchable, and brings hope where there was none. [10:51]
3. The religious spirit isolates and judges, but the Spirit of Christ draws near and restores. The Pharisees kept their distance, questioning and condemning, but Jesus stepped into the lonely places, touching those whom society had rejected. When the compassion of Jesus fills our hearts, it transforms our attitudes and the way we treat others, erasing superiority and judgment. [16:32]
4. Before we can pour out compassion, we must first receive it from Jesus. Like the man left for dead in the story of the Good Samaritan, we need Christ to come to us, heal our wounds, and restore us. Only then are we truly equipped to love others with the same compassion we have received. [22:39]
5. Compassion is a calling to action, not just sentiment. Jesus never simply observed suffering and walked away; He touched, healed, and made a difference. As we move forward, especially after seasons of isolation, we are called to be people who reach out, who hug, who love, and who act—reflecting the heart of Christ to a hurting world. [24:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - The True Character of Jesus
[03:41] - Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee
[04:52] - The Crowds and the Sermon on the Mount
[06:24] - The Leper’s Bold Request
[07:14] - Jesus’ Willingness and Compassion
[08:07] - Sympathy vs. Compassion
[09:05] - Understanding Empathy
[09:58] - God’s Comfort in Our Suffering
[10:51] - Compassion Moves Us to Action
[12:27] - Levitical Law and Leprosy
[13:57] - The Social Isolation of Lepers
[15:36] - The Pharisees’ Attitude vs. Jesus’ Heart
[16:32] - Compassion Transforms the Church
[17:45] - A Childhood Lesson in Compassion
[20:12] - Receiving and Giving Compassion
[21:20] - The Good Samaritan and Jesus
[22:39] - Receiving Compassion Before Giving
[23:33] - Compassion in a Post-Isolation World
[24:34] - Jesus’ Compassion in Action
[27:26] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 1:40-45 (ESV) — > 40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
> 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
> 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
> 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,
> 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
> 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Observation Questions

What did the man with leprosy ask Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to his request? ([06:24])
According to the passage, what actions did Jesus take that were unusual or even shocking for that time and culture? ([13:57])
What instructions did Jesus give the healed man after his healing, and what did the man actually do? ([07:14])
How does the passage describe the emotional state of Jesus when he encountered the leper? ([06:24])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the leper questioned Jesus’ willingness rather than his ability to heal? What does this reveal about the man’s understanding of Jesus? ([06:24])
In what ways did Jesus’ act of touching the leper break social and religious barriers of the day? What message was Jesus sending by doing this? ([13:57])
The sermon described the difference between sympathy, empathy, and compassion. Why is compassion, as defined here, so important in the life of a believer? ([10:51])
How does the response of the religious leaders (Pharisees) to the leper compare to Jesus’ response, and what does this say about the “spirit of religion” versus the “Spirit of Christ”? ([15:36])

Application Questions

The leper approached Jesus with boldness, despite being an outcast. Is there an area in your life where you hesitate to come to Jesus because you doubt his willingness to help? What would it look like to bring that to him this week? ([06:24])
Jesus touched the untouchable, breaking through fear and social stigma. Who in your life or community might feel “untouchable” or isolated? What is one practical way you could reach out to them this month? ([13:57])
The sermon highlighted that compassion is more than a feeling—it moves us to action. Can you think of a recent situation where you felt sympathy or empathy but stopped short of acting? What could you do differently next time? ([10:51])
Before we can show compassion, we must first receive it from Jesus. Are there wounds or areas of brokenness in your life where you need to let Jesus’ compassion in? How can you make space for his healing this week? ([22:39])
The religious spirit isolates and judges, but the Spirit of Christ draws near and restores. Are there ways you have unintentionally kept your distance from people who are struggling? What would it look like to draw near instead? ([16:32])
As we come out of seasons of isolation (like after COVID), what are some specific ways you can “learn to hug again”—to show tangible compassion to those who may be lonely or hurting? ([23:33])
The healed man couldn’t keep quiet about what Jesus had done for him. Is there someone you could share your story of Jesus’ compassion with this week? What might hold you back, and how can you overcome that? ([07:14])

Sermon Clips

Compassion is basically if you feel sympathy or if you feel empathy. And yet, compassion is then taking those and then it's being moved to touch people. It's being moved to action. It's being moved to help people. Compassion is this deep emotional feeling that causes you to act. It causes you to love people. [00:10:51] (28 seconds) #CompassionLeadsToAction

You know, when the compassion of Jesus comes into the church, we won't have our noses up. We won't have our shoulders back and our noses up at everyone that's different than us. We won't have a religious attitude towards people that aren't like us. We won't have that superior attitude that they had, but we will have the compassion of Jesus. We will have the heart of Jesus. [00:16:14] (30 seconds) #CompassionTransformsChurch

Before you have compassion on people, Christian, you need to receive the compassion that Jesus has because Jesus is still showing compassion to people. Jesus wants to come in and he wants to touch you and he wants to minister to you. He wants to touch your body. He wants to touch your heart. He wants to touch your soul. He wants to come in and bring healing. [00:20:51] (32 seconds) #ReceiveJesusCompassion

Until you have Jesus come along, if you're trusting in religion, that's not going to do it. But when you have Jesus come along and he touches you and he says, I'm willing, you call out to him, he comes and he touches you and he changes you. He brings healing. He brings wholeness. He brings freedom, freedom in Christ in your life. [00:22:39] (24 seconds) #JesusBringsFreedom

Before you show compassion to others, you can receive fresh compassion from Jesus. And he wants to pour his compassion upon you wherever you are. Wherever you're watching this from right now, Jesus wants to pour his compassion, his heart of compassion upon you. He is moved with compassion for you. [00:23:03] (20 seconds) #ReceiveFreshCompassion

As you read this story in the book of Mark, and as you read other stories about how Jesus touched people and healed people, I want you to notice something, especially about this Mark passage. When Jesus encountered people like this, he didn't just say, isn't it awful all these sick people and everything that's happening in the world today and leprosy and all these things that are going on and then kind of wander off? He never did that. He touched people. He met people right at their point of need. He healed people. That's compassion. [00:24:24] (35 seconds) #JesusMeetsNeeds

For the people in Jesus' day, this characteristic of Jesus, his compassion, was one of the most remarkable things about him. You see, many people in that time were called Stoics. The Stoics believed that God was totally apathetic, that God was an unfeeling being that didn't really care about the hardships and the misery of people. That's Stoicism. [00:25:05] (34 seconds) #JesusDefiesStoicism

But Jesus came, showed us that God cares, that God is a God of compassion. He's a personal God who wants to personally touch us and he wants to personally touch you with his compassion. [00:25:52] (15 seconds) #GodIsCompassionate

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