The Man of Compassion

MEMORY VERSE: “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord bath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” —Isaiah 49:13

LUKE 4:14-21; 5:17-26; 13:10-17

PICTORIAL language is often used in the Scriptures to teach valuable lessons, and the Prophet Isaiah, in the words of our memory text, uses this method to emphasize the great jubilation which will take place when the kingdom of Christ is established in all the earth for the eventual blessing of the whole world of mankind.

The central figure in this plan for the recovery of the human race from the ravages of sin and death is our Lord Jesus, who, as the man of compassion and the greatest teacher who ever lived, will be fully qualified to carry out that divine purpose. And he will have unlimited power to do so.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry he displayed a measure of that power which will be used in the future times of restitution, Having given himself in unreserved consecration to the Heavenly Father he was, in turn, filled with the Holy Spirit and equipped with power from on high for the great work which he immediately set out to do. He taught the people as one who had authority, and, with his great sense of compassion, the people who bore him witness marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Luke the historian records this (4:14,15), saying, “And there went out fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”

No wonder the people were astonished at the ministry of this man, for he was the Son of the Most High God. Luke records a prophecy from Isaiah which our Lord himself quotes, setting forth his commission from the Heavenly Father: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” What a thrilling prospect for the poor groaning creation!

As Jesus went about on his earthly mission he healed the sick and the lame and the lepers, cast out devils, and indeed even raised the dead with the great power which had been given him. The supporting texts to this lesson indicate the degree of faith that many had in the Great Physician’s power to heal (5:17-26), and the blessings that were received by those who exercised that faith. Although the ransom price had not yet been paid, Jesus forgave sins as a manifestation of his acceptance by God, forgiveness of sins being the first and foremost blessing to be conferred.

In due time, during the future thousand-year kingdom, Jesus and the body members of The Christ will exercise power and dominion throughout the world, and these miracles of grace that were demonstrated to the Jewish nation will be totally eclipsed by the wonder-working power and authority of The Christ in glory. At that time all of the blind eyes shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the sick and the lame made well, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing praises unto the most high God. And in that day there shall be no more death.

On another occasion Jesus demonstrated his great power in healing a woman who had been under the influence of a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years and was unable to stand upright. (13:10-17) Jesus healed her straightway, but because it was on the sabbath day that he did so the ruler of the synagogue was indignant and said unto the people (13:14), “There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” Jesus no doubt intended a valuable lesson for us, as the true meaning of the sabbath day relates to the rest of faith which God has provided for his people—and this is indeed a great blessing.

We look forward with joy to that great day when the world of mankind will receive their blessings and have the opportunity of attaining unto everlasting life here on earth. We may look forward with full assurance of faith that the glorious time of the restitution is near!

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