Discipleship Considered 5 (Continued)

Discipleship Considered

The Character of the Disciples

Love and Compassion

Last time we considered that the disciple needed to begin to be conformed to the image of the Saviour. This means taking on board those qualities that He displayed as well as displaying the family likeness. The first was love and compassion.

When Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?", He replied,'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt.22.36-40). As Paul taught, without love we are nothing. Jesus said that love was the hallmark of discipleship. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13.35). Love is not an option, it is a command. "This is My commandment, that you love one another" (John 15.12). Moreover, the love we show one another must be of the highest quality. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15.12).

Love is often expressed as compassion. Compassion has been expressed as 'that aspect of the love of God which seems to be born out of His consideration of our pitiable condition'. Our misery moves our God to compassion, hence the frequent expression as Christ meets misery, "He was moved with compassion" (Matt. 9.36; 14.14; Mark 1.41; 6.34) (see also Matt. 15.32; 20.34; Mark 5.19; 8.2; Luke 7.13). In these instances when Jesus was moved with compassion, He expressed His love in a practical manner; for example, "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matt.14.14).

At another time His compassion triggered a mighty miracle, the feeding of the multitude. He said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way" (Matt.15.32). Then there were the two blind men, "Jesus had c ompassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him" (Matt. 20.34). These are just a few examples taken from a life of good works that were motivated by compassion and love.

The word 'compassion' comes from the Latin 'com' (with) plus the verb 'pati' (to suffer). Compassion, at its root means 'to suffer with', which suggests that the incarnation itself was one of the greatest acts of compassion where the God of heaven took upon Himself a human frame to identify Himself with suffering humanity. However we look at it, we too must reflect His love and compassion in all that we do.

Next time: 'Honesty and Integrity' and 'Goodness, Kindness and Generosity'.