7-21-24 “Jesus’ Compassion vs. Our Passion”

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“Jesus’ Compassion vs. Our Passion”

I want to start with a funny story I heard: There was a man who lived alone. One day, he bought a parrot, thinking she might be a good friend to chat with. But she never spoke a word. The man went back to the store where he bought the parrot and said, “You know, the parrot never says anything.” The clerk said, “Give her a mirror, and she might start talking.” He bought a mirror for the parrot, but it still didn’t say anything. The man went back to the store and said, “She still hasn’t said anything.” The clerk said, “You might need to give her a ladder. Then she’ll feel better and talk.” So, the man bought a ladder and put it in the cage. But she still didn’t say anything. Then, one day, the parrot died. The man went to the store and said, “You know, the parrot didn’t say anything and died.” The clerk asked him, “Didn’t she say anything before she died?” He said, “She did ask me, ‘Doesn’t the store sell any food for me?’”

It is sad to think that this might be a parable about our story, that we missed what is most important. Some of you have believed in God your whole life; some have done so for half of your life.  However, I wonder if we are living out our daily lives as if we believe in God.

Last week, I went to Chicago for the Jurisdiction Conference. The speaker really challenged us by saying, “we may forget what the first commandment Jesus said is —the love of God—and instead only focus on the second commandment, the love of our neighbors.” It was spiritually awakening for me. It was a time to open my eyes and see the scriptures from another perspective, which means I should carefully review the scriptures to understand what God really wants us to grasp from the passages. Therefore, today, I want to talk about how different “Jesus’ compassion and our passion” are.

Today’s scripture is Mark 6:30-34 and 53-56. Between these passages, there are the stories of Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, and of Jesus walking on water. We know these stories very well, but today’s scripture skips them. Hmm, I wondered why today’s lectionary excluded these important stories. I read the passage several times: “30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”

What message do you see in this passage? You might notice how the disciples worked hard without rest, and some pastors may focus on that. But the word “apostle” catches my eye. Did you notice that the Gospel of Mark began using the term “apostles” instead of “disciples”? I see Jesus’ compassion here through the word, “the apostle.”  The word “Apostle” means “a person who is sent.”  Let’s think about why Mark changed the term for the disciples.

This change happened after Jesus sent his disciples two by two from village to village. They reached out to many people, curing the sick, casting out the demons, and preaching about the kingdom of God. When they returned to Jesus, they reported what they had done. Yes, the Gospel of Mark calls the disciples “apostles” because they were sent by Jesus for the mission of God. Those who are sent by God for His mission might be called the apostles.

We usually call Paul the apostle because he was not one of Jesus’ original disciples. He believed in Jesus after Jesus died, and he met Jesus in a vision. There were many arguments that he was not Jesus’ disciple. Therefore, Paul used the term “apostle,” which means that he was not a disciple of Jesus, but was sent by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. In most of his letters, he begins, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.” (Ephesians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 & 2 Timothy 1:1); Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1); Paul, called to be an apostle (1 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 1:1). Paul had confidence that God called him, and sent him for God’s missions, which were teaching, preaching, and healing the people as Jesus did in his ministry.

It is the same to us. God calls us from the world to the church. God wants us to grow in faith through worship, Bible study, and fellowship at the church, and God wants to send us into the world to reach out to people. This is the reason our church, the body of Christ, exists. According to God’s will, we gather together at church once a week, or more, for worship, Bible study, listening to sermons, and having fellowship. Then, we go out into the world to reach out to people for a week and return to church again. We share what we did during the week when we are sharing our joys and concerns, or during fellowship. That is the church and the duty of apostles. During the week, we should practice the love of God and the love of our neighbors, including our families. Are you an apostle? I ask you again, do you live out your everyday life as an apostle?

Here is Jesus’ compassion. Jesus’ compassion is always toward his people. Whenever people saw Jesus and his disciples, “they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them” (Mark 6:33). Jesus saw them and had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (v.34). Whenever people heard about where Jesus was, they rushed to follow him and carried the sick, who were all healed. Jesus’ compassion is to heal the sick, teach the people, and preach about the kingdom of God. Therefore, he sent out his disciples to work according to his will.

How about all of us? What are our passions? Do we truly pursue Jesus’ healing and fulfill the duty of an apostle? What is our role in God’s plan? If you need healing spiritually, emotionally, or physically, please pursue Jesus for your healing with all your effort. If you consider yourself a mature Christian, you must be an apostle. You should reach out to people, share Jesus’ story, pray for the sick, and care for others.

If you think, “Well, I am too old,” I may say, “Yes, you are old enough to lead younger people with the wisdom God has filled you with.” If you think, “Well, I did it once upon a time,” I say to you , “that might be true, but why don’t you do it again?” Remember, when God called Moses, his was 80, and Abraham was 75. You might think, “Well, that’s a Biblical story.” Yes, you are right. But God is still living with us, and we are God’s people. The biblical story is the testimony of the people of God who experienced the living God. As Timothy says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Biblical story is about God’s compassion toward His people.

There is a reason God called you. God still wants you to do His mission. If you love God, you should love the people of God. We are not perfect in loving others; it often challenges us. But God sent us to teach, preach, and heal people, and we should fulfill the mission with God’s help. I believe that God chose us, not because we are smart enough, or ready to do His work, but because God sees our hearts and desire to do good. Be confident, and go with God’s help. You are the apostle Jesus sent! Do it with passion, bringing Jesus’ compassion to the people. Thanks be to God. Amen!