MOVED WITH COMPASSION:
We read in Matt 9:36 that Jesus was moved with compassion for the people that He saw in the crowd. In the Good News translation it reads: "As He saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd".

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION?
It means that
· Jesus was filled with pity for them
· Jesus felt sorry for the people
· His heart broke for them
· His inner most being moved
· He identified with their situation from His heart
· He was touched deeply

JESUS HAS COMPASSION ON YOU
You can know for sure that Jesus is looking on you today, and is filled with compassion for YOU!

In the same way that Jesus is love, He is compassionate - this is who He is, it is how He feels about you.

TO WHOM DOES JESUS SHOW COMPASSION?
He always shows compassion towards those who are:

· in need
· worried, helpless & tired
· unimportant
· lost
· weak
· lonely
· poor
· rejected
· outcasts
· sick
· sinners
· men & woman of doubtful reputation (prostitutes, tax collectors)

THE HELPLESS CALL TO HIM - HE ANSWERS AND SAVES THEM FROM ALL THEIR TROUBLE (Ps 34:6)
According to Ps 146:7-8 the Lord:
· judges in favour of the oppressed
· gives food to the hungry.
· gives sight to the blind
· sets prisoners free
· lifts those who have fallen
· protects strangers
· helps widows and orphans

HE TAKES NOTICE OF YOUR SUFFERING
· Ps 102:20: "He heard the groans of the prisoners"

· Ps 34:18: "The Lord is near to those who are discouraged"

· Ps 10:14: "You take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help"

· 1 Sam 2:8: "He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery. He makes them companions of princes and puts them in places of honour"

THOSE WHO ARE WELL DO NOT NEED A DOCTOR
LUKE 5:30-32 : "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and other outcasts?" they asked.
Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people to repent, but outcasts."

WHEN JESUS IS MOVED WITH COMPASSION HE REACHES OUT AND TOUCHES AND IMPACTS ….
In all of the following scriptures we find the phrase "moved with compassion" (when we read from the King James-translation) or "filled with pity" (when we read from the Good News-translation). Every time we see that when Jesus was filled with pity for His people He did something to help them, He acted on their need. See what happens when He is filled with pity and compassion for YOU:

· HE HEALS THE SICK
Matt 14:14
Jesus got out of the boat, and when He saw the large crowd, His heart was filled with pity for them, and He healed their sick.

Are you ill, and need healing?
Do you need spiritual healing / healing of the heart / healing from rejection, abuse, misuse? Do you need healing for your broken relationships?

Jesus knows about this need, and He is moved with compassion on you. He will reach out and touch you with His hand of healing.

· HE FEEDS THE HUNGRY
Matt 15:32
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with Me for three days and now have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away without feeding them."

Are you hungry, or have any physical need? Are you hungry for the Lord in your life, for His touch, for His word?

He is moved with compassion for you, and won't send you away without feeding you.

· HE OPENS BLIND EYES
Matt 20:34: 
Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed Him.

Are you blind? Do you feel that your spiritual eyes are blind and you cannot understand the Word of God, you don't see God's higher plan, you do not see light at the end of the dark road that you are traveling?

Jesus is moved with compassion on you, and will touch your eyes, so that you can see Him and follow Him. He will help you to focus on Him, to SEE that He is guiding you through difficult times.

· HE TEACHES
Mark 6:34
When Jesus got out of the boat, He saw this large crowd, and His heart was filled with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Do you feel that you need knowledge and wisdom, or understanding of Gods word; do you need the right words for the right situation?

The Lord sees your need - He will teach you. "The Helper, the Holy Spirit …. Will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you" (John 14:26)

· HE COMFORTS
Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her (the widow from Nain whose only son died), His heart was filled with pity for her, and He said to her, "Don't cry."

Are you sad, are you crying? Are you mourning over the loss of a loved one?

He sees your tears:
· Ps 56:8: "You have kept a record of my tears. Aren't they listed in your book?"

He wipes your tears and says:"Don't cry".
· Rev 21:4: "He will wipe away all tears from their eyes"
· Matt 5:4: "Happy are those who mourn, God will comfort them!"

Jesus is touched deeply by your sorrow, He will comfort you.

· HE CLEANS
Mark 1:40-41
A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease (leprosy) came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged Him for help. "If you want to," he said, "you can make me clean." Jesus was filled with pity, and reached out and touched him. "I do want to," He answered. "Be clean!"
Do you feel unclean, dirty because of sin, unworthy, as if everybody is against you or pushing you out because of things you have done, or because of your outward appearance or your background, or maybe because of an illness?

Jesus says: "I want to clean you".
· The LORD says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool" (Isa 1:18)

Jesus says: "I want to give you a fresh start".
· Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. (2Cor 5:17)

When Jesus sees need, He doesn't say : "Sorry I'm tired, I don't have time, I'm scared of what others might think of Me, I'm afraid that I can catch an illness" …. NO! He reaches out, He touches.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO?
1) Commit yourself to Him (Ps 10:24 The helpless commit themselves to You …)
2) Acknowledge that you have a need.
3) Believe that Jesus has compassion for you (feel sorry for you) and wants to help you
4) Kneel down before Him
5) ASK for His help (He knows what your need, but we must ask) Matt 7:7: "Ask and you will receive. Search and you will find"

SHOW COMPASSION TO OTHERS
Once Jesus has shown compassion to us, we will want to do the same to the people around us.

Jesus is always compassionate, we are His followers, therefore we must be like Him, and be moved with compassion. We must be filled with pity for people in need, for sick, rejected, lonely, hungry, poor, helpless people.

LET US ASK THE LORD TO GIVE US A COMPASSIONATE HEART
Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's compassion: compassion in your face, compassion in your eyes, compassion in your smile, compassion in your touch.