The Compassion of Christ – The Need of Man

We often hear of the passion of Christ.  I was born in Spearfish, S.D., home of the Passion of Play in America.  Churches across America present passion plays, and Gibson’s movie, The Passion caused a great stir in the Christian and non-Christian communities.  The word passion is most often used to describe the death of Christ at Calvary.  The Apostle Paul wrote, For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (I Cor. 2:2).

However, Christ’s death and suffering would not be described as a “passion” if it were not for the compassion and love that He demonstrated for mankind at the Cross.

The entire life of Christ was spent preparing for, intensely moving toward, as in a forward progression, the Cross.  Every person He met, every event encountered, every facet of life that He brought about, each and every incident, which He planned, was for one purpose, HIS PASSION, THE CROSS. 

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.  John 10:18

What does it mean to have compassion?  Compassion is a powerful or compelling feeling or sense of love, driven by immense desire and ardor toward a specific goal.  No matter how many adjectives we use to describe “Passion” it always seems inadequate.   One liberal said of Christ that, “His passion was an outburst, or sudden desire to die,” conveying that Christ did not have a plan, but issues of life weighed upon His humanness, and suddenly Christ knew that He should die to set an example of heroism.

I trust that a believer in Christ would never want to be like the Pharisees rebuked by Jesus, in Luke 11:42, But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God...”  

The word passion to describe the death and suffering of Christ is said to have originated between 1125-1175 A.D.   It is derived from the Latin and carries with it the incredible concepts of suffering and submission.

Christ’s compassion brought about His passion.  His love for the world, and the intense desire to relieve the suffering and consequence of man’s sin, initiated the great truth decreed from the foundation of the world that Christ would die for sin of man, and bring man to a place of peace and redemption.

The true believer is described as having the love of God in his life.  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Rom. 5:5   The love of God should be a natural experience of the Christian.  It is what distinguishes the Christian, setting him apart from the world who has not experienced, nor understands the compassion and love of God. 

Jesus further challenged the Jews who desired to kill Him, But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. John 5:42   

Conversely, the Lord directs the believer into the love of God, And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.  2 Thess. 3:5

The love of God, the compassion of the Lord Jesus, and the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit are evidence of the complete and perfect compassion and unity of the Godhead.

*The compassion of love God is central to our understanding of the Cross.  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared… Tit. 3:4

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  I John 4:9

*The compassion of Jesus is central to our further understanding the Cross.  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  I John 3:16

*The compassion of the Holy Spirit is necessary to understand the comfort asa result of the cross. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  John 14:16

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 15:26

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7

From Genesis to Revelation, the theme of the Bible is the shed blood of the Lamb of God.  The Bible is a “Red Book,” whose theme is the redemption of man by the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God. 

This central theme of the Scripture is hated by the world, but adored those who have experienced salvation.  The redemption of man is wonderfully initiated by the love of God…John 3:16

The World naturally abhors the idea that mankind must be redeemed by someone other than themselves.  But the Bible is explicit in this matter.  It is not by works of righteousness by which we are saved… Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5).

Every person, if they examine their lives carefully, will know that they are truly in need.  It is the pride of man that keeps him from the Cross.  It cannot be!  It cannot be possible that someone could love me that much.  I can make it on my own – I think, is the cry of the lost world.   But redemption purchased at the Cross is available to all men. 

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  Rom. 5:18

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit. 2:11

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. I Tim. 2:4

It is Christ who died and yea is risen from the dead.  Why? For the redemption of man.  Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but is passed from death unto life. 

The passion of Christ is evident. Man does not have to suffer and die in agony upon a cross, nor does he have to accept some other means of redemption, other than the one that has been provided by God Himself, in order to be saved.   It is all Christ.  It is Christ! It is Christ and Christ alone.