ARE YOU MOVED TO ACT AS JESUS WAS?

Moved to Respond to Spiritual Needs

Jesus felt pity for those around him primarily because of their spiritual needs. those needs were of chief importance, more so then physical needs. Consider the account of mark 6:30-34. The incident recorded there took place on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, close to the time of the Passover in 32 C.E. The apostles were excited, and for good reason. Having just completed an extensive tour, they came to Jesus, no doubt eager to tell him their experiences. However, a crowd gathered. It was so large that Jesus and his apostles could neither eat nor rest. Jesus told the apostles: "Come, you yourselves, privately into a lonely place and rest up a bit." (Mark 6:31) Boarding a boat, probably near Capernaum, they sailed across the Sea of Galilee to a quiet place. But the crowd ran along the shore and arrived ahead of the boat. How would Jesus respond? Was he upset that his privacy was disturbed? Not at all!

Jesus' heart was touched by the sight of this crowd of thousands, including sick ones, who eagerly awaited him. (Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:44) Focusing on what aroused Jesus' compassion and how he responded, Mark wrote: "He saw a great crowd, but he was moved with pity for them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd. And he started to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34) Jesus saw more than a mass of people. He saw individuals having spiritual needs. They were like sheep straying helplessly, having no shepherd to guide them to green pastures or to protect them. Jesus knew that the cold hearted religious leaders, who were suppose to be caring shepherds, actually despised the common people and neglected their spiritual needs. (Ezekiel 34:2-4; John 7:47-49) Jesus would treat them differently,doing the greatest possible good for them. He began teaching them about God's Kingdom.

Notice the sequence and the suggestion of priority evident in a parallel account. This was written by Luke, who was a physician and keenly interested in the physical well-being of others. "The crowds . . . followed [Jesus]. And he received them kindly and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those needing a cure." (Luke 9:11; Colossians 4:14) Though it is not so with every account of a miracle, in this case,what did Luke's' inspired account note first? It was the fact that Jesus taught the people.

This actually agrees with the emphasis that we find at Mark 6:34. That verse clearly shows how Jesus was principally moved to express his pity. He taught the people, responding to their spiritual needs. Earlier in his ministry, Jesus had said: "To other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sen forth." (Luke 4:43) Still, we would be mistaken, if we though that Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom message out of mere duty, as if he perfunctorily went through the motions of the preaching work that he had to do. No, his loving compassion for the people was a key motivation for his sharing the good news with them. The ultimate good that Jesus could do-even for the sick, the demon afflicted the poor, or the hungry-was to help them to know, accept, and love the truth about God's Kingdom. That truth was of central importance because of the role of the Kingdom in vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty and providing permanent blessings for humans.

Jesus' active preaching about the Kingdom was at the core of the reason why he came to earth. Near the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus told Pilate: "For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37) We have noted in the two preceding articles that Jesus was a person of tender feelings-caring, approachable, considerate, trusting and above all, loving, We need to appreciate those aspects of his personality if we truly want to understand the mind of Christ. It is equally important to realize that the mind of Christ includes the priority he placed on his preaching and teaching work.

Next time: He Urged Others to Witness

Watchtower, 2000