“Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love” ~~~Mother Teresa~~

Jesus promised that he would not leave us comfortless.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (John 14:18).  O, what divine compassion Jesus had for his disciples!   The disciples did not want Jesus to go away.  They did not understand the words Jesus had spoken to them.  What a sad… sorrowful bunch they were.  Their sole source of divine help was physically leaving them.  The disciples were in meltdown!  What are we going to do now?  Where can we go now?  Who can we look to for words of eternal life?  He is leaving us!  O, woe is me!

Of course, Jesus knew how they felt at this time.  He knew what they were thinking.  Jesus knew what lay in front of them too.  He knew they were about to face persecution, hardships, and losses.   He loved his disciples.  He was moved with great compassion for them.  I’m leaving in body but coming back as Spirit was the Lord’s words.  You will have me here with you in Spirit.
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16-17).  They did find out the importance of the words Jesus left them.  They received the gift of the Holy Ghost in Acts 2.

When the Holy Spirit enters our hearts, he makes personal our relationship with the Father and with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit gives us all the strength needed to keep his word.  He empowers us with his Spirit to overcome!  He empowers us with his Spirit to live godly and victoriously in this world! He empowers us to be bold witnesses of all the great works he has done!  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him (1 John. 4:12).  He leads, guides, teaches, and comforts his own.

O, what divine compassion he has for his bride!  He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16).  One of  The Spirit’s mission is to comfort Christ’s bride in the absence of the bridegroom, Jesus.  As Comforter, he soothes her in time of pain or grief.  He eases her sorrow.  He brings her encouraging words from the groom.  He compassionately shares….private spoken words of love meant only for his bride .  Glad tidings from the groom always cheers her up!  This empowers her to continue on while she awaits her beloved’s arrival.  The soothing tender compassionate words of her groom makes her complete…makes her whole.  Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (Psalm 63:3).

When Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter, he made a sure prediction.  He knew we would suffer in this life.  We would need comforting.  We would need his help, kindness, and compassion.

He lives in you with all the power of God.  You can truly say, “Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.  That means all world powers combined–including demon powers.”  God sent the Spirit to use his power to keep you victorious over all the attacks of your adversary!  He has come to lift your spirit, drive away all despair, and flood your soul with the compassionate love of the Father.

We find an example of Christs’ compassion in the story about the woman with the issue of blood.  She had suffered twelve years without any remedy.  There was no hope left for her so she knew that death awaited.  Human efforts were all in vain.  She had spent all she had trying to get well.  When she heard Jesus was in her town, she came in the press behind, and touched his garment.  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be made whole.  She suddenly became healed of the plague.  Jesus knew immediately that virtue had gone out of him.  He turned around and said, “Who touched my clothes?”  He looked at the woman who had done this thing.  She was trembling and afraid.  She came to him and fell down before him, and told him the truth.  He had compassion on this woman.  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.  You can read this story in (Mark 5:25-34).  O, what divine compassion Jesus has for us.

Compassion…Poem by William Blake

Can I see another’s woe, And not be in sorrow too?  Can I see another’s grief, And not seek for kind relief?

Lord Jesus….May we show compassion through acts of kindness to those you send our way.   May we stop and do all we can in helping others in their time of need.  May your love be shed abroad in our hearts that we will have your compassion and become a giver of it…. just like you Jesus….as shown to us in your word….In your wonderful holy name….Amen