The Role of the Church in the Community

Jesus Showed Sympathy

Lesson #8 for August 20, 2016

Scriptures: [2 Kings 13:23; Exodus 2:23-25; Luke 7:11-16; 1 John 3:17-18; John 11:35; Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4][1].

1.    This lesson will discuss the ways in which Jesus showed sympathy, compassion, empathy, and pity. What should we do to follow His example? In what ways can sympathy and compassion best be shown?

How much more tragic could it be? A 17-year-old girl, struggling with what most 17-year-old girls struggle with, except with so much more, took her own life. Who could imagine the parents’ devastation?

Their pastor came over to the house. He sat down in the living room next to them and for a long time said nothing. He just immersed himself in their grief. Then he, the pastor, started sobbing. He sobbed until his tears ran dry. Then, without saying a word, he got up and left.

Sometime later, the father told him how much he appreciated what the pastor had done. He and his wife, at that time, didn’t need words, didn’t need promises, didn’t need counseling. All they needed, right then and there, was raw sympathy.

“I can’t tell you,” he said to the minister, “how much your sympathy meant to us.”—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Saturday, August 13.

2.    Can you think of an example from your own experience or an example of which you are aware that showed true sympathy? Were Job’s friends sympathetic? We are told that Jesus mingled with people. His examples of sympathy take mingling to a whole new level.

3.    What is it that makes sympathy so important in our time? In nations of the more developed world, families have become more nuclear and isolated than they used to be. In times past, grandparents lived with parents and children. Today, we have father and mother and children, each rushing to and fro to meet their own individual schedule and responsibilities.

4.    More than that, with people tending more and more to believe in neo-Darwinism and evolution, they think there is nothing beyond this life. We are a small blue dot floating in an immense universe which to many seems to have no purpose. Many think we are simply the results of the “Big Bang.” How sad!

5.    The Bible, of course, paints a very different picture. Read [Judges 2:16-18; 2 Kings 13:23; and Isaiah 54:7-8,10][2]. Even when the children of Israel were in deep trouble because they had abandoned their loyalty to God, He still loved them. He took care of them; and when they returned to Him, He would bless them and bring them peace, once again, because of His promises and His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How different that is from the usual Christian understanding of the Old Testament in which God is viewed as a stern, mean, unforgiving, and uncompassionate, dominant Sovereign of the universe. He is viewed as a harsh Judge-an unforgiving Father. By many, He is thought of as arbitrary, vengeful, exacting, unforgiving, and severe. That God is Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:44; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4)[3]

6.    Read [Exodus 2:23-25 and Hosea 11:7-8][4]. When God saw the suffering of His children in Egyptian slavery, He had compassion on them. Many years later when the northern kingdom of Israel was about to go into historical oblivion, never to be traced again, His heart cried out after them.

Hosea 11:8-9 (GNB):

“How can I give you up, Israel?

How can I abandon you?

Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah,

or treat you as I did Zeboiim?

My heart will not let me do it!

My love for you is too strong.

9 I will not punish you in my anger;

I will not destroy Israel again.

For I am God and not a human being.

I, the Holy One, am with you.

I will not come to you in anger.”

7.    Read [James 5:11 and Psalm 103:8][5]. These verses make it very clear that the Lord is full of mercy and compassion, slow to become angry, and full of constant love.

8.    Ellen White went the extra mile in spelling out what our relationship with God should be.

Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ 100.1. [Bold type and italic type are added.]

9.    Read [Matthew 14:14; 9:35-36; and Luke 7:11-16][6]. Repeatedly, the Gospels tell us that when Jesus saw the crowds of suffering, ill, and hungry people, He had great compassion on them, recognizing that they were like sheep without a shepherd.

10. The words sympathy, empathy, pity, and compassion have similar meanings. Have we experienced these attitudes in our own lives? When we hear of a tragedy-especially if it is in our own local community-do we respond by saying, “I’m so sorry” and then just move on? Or, do we actually move to do something about it? Have you tried telephoning those who are suffering? Or, perhaps sending them a sympathy card? Loving action would be even more appreciated.

11.    Fortunately, in our world today, there are large government-funded aid agencies that deal with natural disasters. But, what about the smaller misfortunes that nevertheless affect some people very severely? How should we respond if someone not far from us has his/her home burned down or destroyed by a hurricane or tornado?

12.    As we all know, our newspapers and news broadcasts are full of tragedies. “If it bleeds, it leads.” How do we respond to these tragedies? Do we think a few sympathetic thoughts and then move on to the sports page? Is that appropriate for a real Christian?

13.    Read [Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 3:8; and 1 John 3:17][7]. How do we “clothe ourselves” with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience? Do we know how to be kind and humble with each other? How does it make you feel to read: “Rich people who see a brother or sister in need, yet close their hearts against them, cannot claim that they love God”?

14.    Compassion which comes from the Latin word compati means to really suffer with someone. If we have experienced some very unfortunate event, does it make it easier for us to understand the sufferings of others?

15.    Review once again the story of the good Samaritan. (Luke 10:30-37[8]) When the priest and the Levite passed by the suffering man, no doubt, they thought: “If I help this man, what will happen to me?” By contrast, when the Samaritan saw the sufferer, he asked himself: “If I don’t help this man, what will happen to him?” Which of those views most accurately represents your thoughts when you see someone suffering? To make things even worse, we are told: “The Levite was of the same tribe as was the wounded, bruised sufferer.” - Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, January 1, 1895 par. 5; Welfare Ministry 47.1. So, the person lying beside the road was actually a Levite.

16.    Read Luke 15:20-32[9]. As we know, in the story of the prodigal son, the father represents a correct picture of God as He welcomes sinners back home. The prodigal was wasteful, reckless, extravagant, and uncontrolled as he ran away from home and wasted his father’s money. But, when he came back home, the father’s love was wasteful, extravagant, and uncontrolled. To the older brother, the father was the prodigal!

17.    What does it take to convince us to set self aside and become vulnerable to those in need? Conversion? Some of us live near cities which can be dangerous places. Are we willing to reach out to people in such places who are hurting? Would God protect us if we did that?

18.    The community clinic where I work used to be in a very poor and dangerous area. Many of my associates did not think it was safe to go there. In the early days, some cars were actually stolen. But, God has protected us now for more than 20 years. Or, have we just been lucky?

19.    Read John 11:35[10]. Why did Jesus weep at the grave of Lazarus? Wasn’t He about to raise him from the dead? Jesus knew what He was going to do. But, in sympathy, empathy, and pity for His close friends, He wept. It touched Him to His very core. Sadducees did not believe in life after death and, thus, did not believe it was possible for someone to be raised from the dead.

20.    Unfortunately, Jesus recognized a much larger problem in that situation than the death of a close friend.

The weight of the grief of ages was upon Him. He saw the terrible effects of the transgression of God’s law. He saw that in the history of the world, beginning with the death of Abel, the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing. Looking down the years to come, He saw the suffering and sorrow, tears and death, that were to be the lot of men. His heart was pierced with the pain of the human family of all ages and in all lands. The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon His soul, and the fountain of His tears was broken up as He longed to relieve all their distress.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 534.2.

21.    Try to imagine what it would be like not only to feel the pain of all the tragedies taking place in the world right now, but also all the tragedies and sufferings that have taken place throughout the history of our world. Aren’t you thankful that we only get a tiny glimpse of all that sorrow and pain?

22.    Consider this from the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Wednesday, August 17.

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said: “ ‘If you can’t cry over the city, we can’t use you.’ ”—Roger S. Greenway and Timothy M. Monsma, Cities: Missions’ New Frontier (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Pub. Group, 2000), p. 246. What should those words say to each of us?

23.    Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4[11]. Try to imagine Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit gathering around you at a time when you are suffering, bringing comfort and cheer. Would that make us more willing to comfort and cheer people who are suffering?

24.    The word comfort comes from the Latin com (together, with) plus fortis (strong). When we suffer some tragedy, does that strengthen us and encourages us to reach out to others who are suffering?

25.    Has your church ever been a house of refuge for the hurting? (See Numbers 35 and Ezekiel 47:1-12.)[12]

26.    The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Thursday, August 18 suggests the following rules for showing sympathy:

Be authentic. Listen more than you speak. Be sure your body language reinforces your attempt to sympathize and comfort.

Show sympathy out of your individual personality. Some people give sympathy by quietly crying with the troubled person. Others don’t cry but show sympathy by organizing something that is a comfort to the bereaved.

Being a presence is often more important than speaking or doing.

Allow people to grieve in their own way.

Become acquainted with the stages of processing grief that people often go through.

Be careful about saying “I know how you feel.” Chances are that you don’t.

There is a place for professional counseling.

Don’t say “I’ll pray for you” unless you really intend to do so. When possible, pray with, unhurriedly visit with, and share encouraging Bible promises with suffering ones.

Organize support groups (if available) at your church or in your community.

27.    Jesus did some miraculous and amazing things to show how much He cared. Imagine feeding 5000 men not counting women and children, (Mark 6:34-44[13]) and then later, 4000 men not counting women and children. (Matthew 15:32-38[14]) In the later case, they were largely Gentiles! Should that matter?

28.    When we do a small deed of helpfulness for someone who is hurting, does it sometimes seem like it is so little when the need is so much? We may feed the hungry for a meal; but, in a few hours, they will be hungry again! If you start to think about the need in the entire world, it might tempt us to ask, “What’s the sense of doing anything?” But, what if everyone said that? Then, no one would be helped. On the other hand, if everyone who saw the need did something, how many would be helped? We know that the Bible makes it clear that there will always be the poor and needy-those who need help, those who are suffering whether from pain or some type of illness. But, Jesus said that when we reach out to them with a glass of water or provide them a meal or some clothing, we are, in effect, doing it for Him. (Matthew 25:31-46[15])

29.    Dwight Nelson, pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University, in his book Pursuing the Passion of Jesus said: “Many wonder why God doesn’t act. God wonders why so many of His people don’t care.” Is that a fair question? What could we do to respond?

Kindly words simply spoken, little attentions simply bestowed, will sweep away the clouds of temptation and doubt that gather over the soul. The true heart expression of Christlike sympathy, given in simplicity, has power to open the door of hearts that need the simple, delicate touch of the Spirit of Christ.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, 30.

30.    As we noted in the story at the beginning of this lesson, even the simplest act of true compassion and sympathy may make a huge difference to someone who is hurting.

31.    How often have you experienced the joy of showing unselfish kindness and sympathy to someone who is hurting or hungry or suffering? Could we make it a point each week to reach out to at least one person who is hurting or suffering and practice Christ’s compassion? What do the people in your community think about your church? To them, does your church seem to be aloof and unsympathetic? A smile, a handshake, a sympathetic word can touch hearts.

32.    What factors do you think tend to make us unsympathetic toward others? Are language, differences in culture, certain illnesses, race, even poverty and filth, barriers that we have a hard time getting around? How often do we see think, “Their problems are their fault”? Can you think of a time when you were unsympathetic or even unkind to someone who was suffering? What could you do to make restitution? Are there people surrounding your church who are tired, lonely, even discouraged? What best way can we reach out to them?

33.    Some Christians feel like they need to do some great thing as their mission. They feel they are required to do so because we are told to witness or maybe even because we are trying to baptize more members. Christ calls us to a higher motivation: Love, sympathy, and compassion for people.

The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely-because he is required to do so-will never enter into the joy of obedience. He does not obey. When the requirements of God are accounted a burden because they cut across human inclination, we may know that the life is not a Christian life. True obedience is the outworking of a principle within. It springs from the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness [98] is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right-because right doing is pleasing to God.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons 97.3-98.0.

34.    In our busy, hectic world, we look for quicker ways to express ourselves with the least amount of disruption to our busy programs. Facebook is the world’s largest online social networking site. Almost from the beginning, it has allowed people to respond to a post with a “like”—“thumbs up” with one quick press of a button-without the chance for “dislike” or “thumbs down.” But, if someone reports a tragedy that has happened to himself or to a friend of theirs, should we respond with a “like”? Or, ignore it? Facebook now offers an emoji for each of several different emotions-“love,” “laughter,” “shock,” “sadness,” and “anger.” Now, we can simply push the button and go on our way!

35.    Is a personal touch essential to real sympathy? When we tell someone who is in the midst of a tragedy that we will be praying for him/her, do we do so?

36.    Read Matthew 14:14[16].

The word compassion in this verse is translated from the Greek word splangchnistheis, which William Barclay describes as “the strongest word for pity in the Greek language.” He points out that it derives from the word splangchna, which means the bowels. According to Barclay, “it describes the The Role of the Church in the Community #8 - page 5 of 6 compassion which moves a man to the deepest depths of his being. In the gospels, apart from its use in some of the parables, it is used only of Jesus.”—Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide page 108.

37.    Read Luke 7:1-10[17]. We have studied how Jesus reached out to the Roman centurion. Being aware of Jewish purity laws, the Roman centurion himself was trying to be sympathetic to Jesus, recognizing that Jesus was probably not even supposed to come to his house. Thus, with sympathy for Jewish customs, he suggested that Jesus did not need to appear in person; Jesus only needed to speak the word. Did the centurion know of any case in which Jesus had healed someone at a distance?

38.    Read Mark 2:1-12[18]. The men who brought that paralyzed man to the home of Peter and then carried him up to the roof, opening a hole in the roof, and lowering him down before Jesus, probably wondered how Jesus would respond. The suffering man himself must have been apprehensive and nervous, knowing the cause of his illness. Jesus, so gentle, so kind, so sympathetic, simply said: “Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2, GNB)

39.    Read Luke 8:40-56[19]. Jesus dropped what He was doing to rush to the home of Jairus to heal his very ill daughter. On the way, He was touched by that suffering woman and He spoke gently to her saying: “Courage, my daughter! Your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 9:22, GNB) In the original language, these are all illustrations of splangchnistheis.

40.    To the ancient Jewish people, emotions were located in the bowels and thinking was located in the heart. Today, we have moved everything up about 18 inches. We do thinking with our brains and feeling with our hearts. Notice these words from Jeremiah 4:19, (KJV): “My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart;...”

41.    The early Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo used the expression: “With love for humanity, but hatred for sin.” In our day, we have modified the expression slightly to say: “Love the sinner, but hate the sin.” Can we do that without being condescending or suggesting that we are in some way superior to the one who is a sinner? Even when someone is a drunkard, do we remember that s/he also might be a mother/father, a daughter/son, even a friend? We need to remember that God looks at things very differently.

God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God.

Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ 30.1. [Bold type is added.]

42.    Is it possible to call sin by its right name without sounding superior?

43.    In this lesson we have seen many examples of how we can be sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, even pitying those who are suffering. Are we ready to practice these traits?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox.org

1-2 Kings 13:23 but the LORD was kind and merciful to them. He would not let them be destroyed, but helped them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has never forgotten his people.

Exodus 2:23 Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God, 24 who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them

Luke 7:11 Soon afterward[a] Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12 Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up, I tell you!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”

1 John 3:17 If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God? 18 My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

Romans 12:15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! 4 He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

2-Judges 2:16 Then the LORD gave the Israelites leaders who saved them from the raiders. 17 But the Israelites paid no attention to their leaders. Israel was unfaithful to the LORD and worshiped other gods. Their fathers had obeyed the LORD's commands, but this new generation soon stopped doing so. 18 Whenever the LORD gave Israel a leader, the LORD would help that leader and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived. The LORD would have mercy on them because they groaned under their suffering and oppression.

2 Kings 13:23 but the LORD was kind and merciful to them. He would not let them be destroyed, but helped them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has never forgotten his people.

Isaiah 54:7 “For one brief moment I left you;

with deep love I will take you back.

8 I turned away angry for only a moment,

but I will show you my love forever.”

So says the LORD who saves you.

10 The mountains and hills may crumble,

but my love for you will never end;

I will keep forever my promise of peace.”

So says the LORD who loves you.

3-Luke 24:44 Then he said to them, “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.”

1 Corinthians 10:I want you to remember, my friends, what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the protection of the cloud, and all passed safely through the Red Sea. 2 In the cloud and in the sea they were all baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All ate the same spiritual bread 4 and drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them; and that rock was Christ himself.

4-Exodus 2:23 Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God, 24 who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.

Hosea 11:7 They insist on turning away from me. They will cry out because of the yoke that is on them, but no one will lift it from them.[a]

8 “How can I give you up, Israel?

How can I abandon you?

Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah,

or treat you as I did Zeboiim?

My heart will not let me do it!

My love for you is too strong.

5-James 5:11 We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job's patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and loving,

slow to become angry and full of constant love.

6-Matthew 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.

9:35 Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed people with every kind of disease and sickness. 36 As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Luke 7:11 Soon afterward[a] Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12 Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don't cry.” 14 Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up, I tell you!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”

7-Colossians 3:12 You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 Peter 3:8 To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another.

1 John 3:17 If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?

8-Luke 10:30 Jesus answered, “There was once a man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, stripped him, and beat him up, leaving him half dead. 31 It so happened that a priest was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side. 32 In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan who was traveling that way came upon the man, and when he saw him, his heart was filled with pity. 34 He went over to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them; then he put the man on his own animal and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he told the innkeeper, ‘and when I come back this way, I will pay you whatever else you spend on him.’”

36 And Jesus concluded, “In your opinion, which one of these three acted like a neighbor toward the man attacked by the robbers?”

37 The teacher of the Law answered, “The one who was kind to him.”

Jesus replied, “You go, then, and do the same.”

9-Luke 15:20 So he got up and started back to his father.

“He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him. 21 ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’ 22 But the father called to his servants. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23 Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’ And so the feasting began.

25 “In the meantime the older son was out in the field. On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard the music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What's going on?’ 27 ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in. 29 But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! 30 But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’ 31 ‘My son,’ the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”

10-John 11:35 Jesus wept.

11-2 Corinthians 1:3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes! 4 He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

12-Numbers 35:1 In the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites that from the property they receive they must give the Levites some cities to live in and pasture land around the cities. 3 These cities will belong to the Levites, and they will live there. The pasture land will be for their cattle and all their other animals. 4 The pasture land is to extend outward from the city walls five hundred yards in each direction, 5 so that there is a square area measuring one thousand yards on each side, with the city in the middle. 6 You are to give the Levites six cities of refuge to which any of you can escape if you kill someone accidentally. In addition, give them forty-two other cities 7 with their pasture land, making a total of forty-eight. 8 The number of Levite cities in each tribe is to be determined according to the size of its territory.”

The Cities of Refuge

9 The LORD told Moses 10 to say to the people of Israel: “When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan, 11 you are to choose cities of refuge to which any of you can escape if you kill someone accidentally. 12 There you will be safe from the dead person's relative who seeks revenge. No one accused of manslaughter is to be put to death without a public trial. 13 Choose six cities, 14 three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. 15 These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.

16-18 “If, however, any of you use a weapon of iron or stone or wood to kill someone, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death. 19 The dead person's nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds you, he is to kill you.

20 “If you hate someone and kill him by pushing him down or by throwing something at him 21 or by striking him with your fist, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death. The dead person's nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds you, he is to kill you.

22 “But suppose you accidentally kill someone you do not hate, whether by pushing him down or by throwing something at him. 23 Or suppose that, without looking, you throw a stone that kills someone whom you did not intend to hurt and who was not your enemy. 24 In such cases the community shall judge in your favor and not in favor of the dead person's relative who is seeking revenge. 25 You are guilty only of manslaughter, and the community is to rescue you from the dead person's relative, and they are to return you to the city of refuge to which you had escaped. You must live there until the death of the man who is then High Priest. 26 If you leave the city of refuge to which you have escaped 27 and if the dead person's relative finds you and kills you, this act of revenge is not murder. 28 Any of you guilty of manslaughter must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest, but after that you may return home. 29 These rules apply to you and your descendants wherever you may live.

30 “Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses; the evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder. 31 Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money. 32 If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest. 33 If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered. 34 Do not defile the land where you are living, because I am the LORD and I live among the people of Israel.”

Ezekiel 47:1 The man led me back to the entrance of the Temple. Water was coming out from under the entrance and flowing east, the direction the Temple faced. It was flowing down from under the south part of the Temple past the south side of the altar. 2 The man then took me out of the Temple area by way of the north gate and led me around to the gate that faces east. A small stream of water was flowing out at the south side of the gate. 3 With his measuring rod the man measured 560 yards downstream to the east and told me to wade through the stream there. The water came only to my ankles. 4 Then he measured another 560 yards, and the water came up to my knees. Another 560 yards farther down, the water was up to my waist. 5 He measured 560 yards more, and there the stream was so deep I could not wade through it. It was too deep to cross except by swimming. 6 He said to me, “Mortal man, note all this carefully.”

Then the man took me back to the riverbank, 7 and when I got there, I saw that there were very many trees on each bank. 8 He said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east and down into the Jordan Valley and to the Dead Sea. When it flows into the Dead Sea, it replaces the salt water of that sea with fresh water. 9 Wherever the stream flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish. The stream will make the water of the Dead Sea fresh, and wherever it flows, it will bring life. 10 From the Springs of Engedi all the way to the Springs of Eneglaim, there will be fishermen on the shore of the sea, and they will spread out their nets there to dry. There will be as many different kinds of fish there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the water in the marshes and ponds along the shore will not be made fresh. They will remain there as a source of salt. 12 On each bank of the stream all kinds of trees will grow to provide food. Their leaves will never wither, and they will never stop bearing fruit. They will have fresh fruit every month, because they are watered by the stream that flows from the Temple. The trees will provide food, and their leaves will be used for healing people.”

13-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. 35 When it was getting late, his disciples came to him and said, “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. 36 Send the people away, and let them go to the nearby farms and villages in order to buy themselves something to eat.”

37 “You yourselves give them something to eat,” Jesus answered.

They asked, “Do you want us to go and spend two hundred silver coins[a] on bread in order to feed them?”

38 So Jesus asked them, “How much bread do you have? Go and see.”

When they found out, they told him, “Five loaves and also two fish.”

39 Jesus then told his disciples to make all the people divide into groups and sit down on the green grass. 40 So the people sat down in rows, in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty. 41 Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 Everyone ate and had enough. 43 Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left of the bread and the fish. 44 The number of men who were fed was five thousand.

14-Matthew 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, for they might faint on their way home.”

33 The disciples asked him, “Where will we find enough food in this desert to feed this crowd?”

34 “How much bread do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven loaves,” they answered, “and a few small fish.”

35 So Jesus ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the people. 37 They all ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up seven baskets full of pieces left over. 38 The number of men who ate was four thousand, not counting the women and children.

15-Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left. 34 Then the King will say to the people on his right, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. 35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Away from me, you that are under God's curse! Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels! 42 I was hungry but you would not feed me, thirsty but you would not give me a drink; 43 I was a stranger but you would not welcome me in your homes, naked but you would not clothe me; I was sick and in prison but you would not take care of me.’ 44 Then they will answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and we would not help you?’ 45 The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.’ 46 These, then, will be sent off to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life.”

16-Matthew 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.

17-Luke 7:1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”

6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don't trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”

10 The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well.

18-Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum, and the news spread that he was at home. 2 So many people came together that there was no room left, not even out in front of the door. Jesus was preaching the message to them 3 when four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. 4 Because of the crowd, however, they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they let the man down, lying on his mat. 5 Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some teachers of the Law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “How does he dare talk like this? This is blasphemy! God is the only one who can forgive sins!”

8 At once Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Why do you think such things? 9 Is it easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 I will prove to you, then, that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, 11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

19-Luke 8:40 When Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, the people welcomed him, because they had all been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus arrived; he was an official in the local synagogue. He threw himself down at Jesus' feet and begged him to go to his home, 42 because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying.

As Jesus went along, the people were crowding him from every side. 43 Among them was a woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years; she had spent all she had on doctors,[a] but no one had been able to cure her. 44 She came up in the crowd behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once. 45 Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”

Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, the people are all around you and crowding in on you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I knew it when power went out of me.” 47 The woman saw that she had been found out, so she came trembling and threw herself at Jesus' feet. There in front of everybody, she told him why she had touched him and how she had been healed at once. 48 Jesus said to her, “My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

49 While Jesus was saying this, a messenger came from the official's house. “Your daughter has died,” he told Jairus; “don't bother the Teacher any longer.”

50 But Jesus heard it and said to Jairus, “Don't be afraid; only believe, and she will be well.”

51 When he arrived at the house, he would not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. 52 Everyone there was crying and mourning for the child. Jesus said, “Don't cry; the child is not dead—she is only sleeping!”

53 They all made fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 54 But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Get up, child!” 55 Her life returned, and she got up at once, and Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astounded, but Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Table of Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

1-

2-

3-

4-

5-

6-

7-

8-

9-

10-

11-

12-

13-

14-

15-

16-

17-

18-

19-