Devotion: Passionate About Compassion
“They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32
If you watch the news at all, you’ve seen the destruction and ravages of war. The scenes are savage and cruel. While there is, as scripture says, “a time for war,” I’ve long been of the opinion that no one wins a war – that everyone loses.
Of course, the most difficult part of watching the news is to see the innocent suffer. Coupled with knowing that this is currently happening in the place that is central to our Judeo-Christian heritage, makes it so much worse. I’ve come to notice that I barely listen to the words any longer when watching the news. I simply feel the pain as I see the images. It is a pain that defies explanation.
In Jerusalem there exists a chapel next to the Garden of Gethsemane. It is the Church of All Nations. On the exterior door hangs a sign, warning every visitor: “No Explanations Inside The Church.” Of course, the meaning of the translated English words confuses the intended message. In essence, the sign is meant to quiet the voices of the tour guides so as to not interrupt those who are praying. But there is, especially in these days, a greater message for us. Namely, compassion is to be felt and not explained.
As we begin Lent, it is easy for us to want to explain it all. I feel like explaining compassion is like trying to explain to someone how to swim. All my explanations fall short… you must get in the pool to learn how to swim! The same is true about compassion. No amount of explaining can really teach you its value, just as it did for Jesus.
This week we hear of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. And we hear of his struggle being both God and man. He wants to get out of the pain, but submits to the will of the Father. The juxtaposition of humanity and divinity, submission and freedom, sacrifice and compassion are striking. The brutally hard reality we are faced with is that compassion is not something we are simply to receive, but we are to give. And even more challenging, giving compassion often comes at a cost of personal suffering.
As you walk in this world in this age of information, seeing hardship that defies explanation, and as you read God’s Word and walk with Jesus to the cross, I hope that you can allow yourself to let go of all the explanations you will hear, and that you will feel the compassion Jesus offered, and that you will be courageous enough to offer compassion, even when it hurts.
Gracious God, help us to feel you in this season. Help us to feel the pain in this world and respond to it as you have, giving fewer explanations, and sharing greater compassion. Amen.
Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier
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Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey which has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team. Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.