Jesus Felt Compassion

[Note: I am reading through the Bible in 2026 and blogging each day on one of the passages I’ve read. These won’t be “perfect” posts, but this exersize helps me think though and apply some portion of scripture to my life each day.]

And as [Jesus and the disciples] went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”  The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”  And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”  They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”  And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34

I love this story. The blind men cannot be silenced! They twice ask Jesus to show them “mercy” (the greek word is also translated compassion or pity). They didn’t care what the crowd said. They knew that Jesus would stop and listen.

I love Jesus’ response. The men asked Jesus to show them compassion, but he was moved by compassion. The greek word translated “pity,” means to be moved by pity or compassion (literally to feel it in the bowels).

They wanted Jesus to show them compassion. He felt compassion. And he healed them.

I love how they responded. No question in their minds: they followed Jesus.

Jesus felt compassion toward me, and my sin-blindness. He acted on that compassion at the Cross. And when I first realized what He did for me, I followed.

But it’s so easy to forget! It’s so easy to forget that Jesus does more than show me compassion. He feels it. Every day. As I struggle with negative thoughts about myself. As I think negative thoughts about others – and wish I could be kinder. As I feel sad in my loneliness.

Jesus feels compassion for me.

I forget.

And maybe I don’t believe really it.

Dear Lord: Help me to believe you feel compassion toward me. Help me to remember it. And help me shout out as often as necessary for you to show me compassion. Amen.