In Pity

Ok, this is one of those passages that I have read a thousand times, and on the “thousandth and first” time, a small detail finally caught my attention. That small detail proved to be the center of the whole story.

The thought is, when we suffer, or are going through hard, stressful times, Christ actually pities us like he does in the story. This is not the kind of pity where we hear, “O, I feel so sorry for you,” but the kind where the person actually experiences the fear, pain, and frustration of what we are going through. We would probably call it empathy.

I saw this in a passage I read in Matthew 20, verses 29-34. Jesus is leaving Jericho with a crowd following him. He sees two blind men by the road, and when they hear that Jesus is passing by, they immediately begin calling to him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” Interesting, they apparently knew who he was. The crowd begins to try to get them to back off, but they are persistent and cried the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Jesus then did something strange. He asked them what they wanted him to do. At first it would seem obvious, but he wanted them to reveal their heart. We don’t let our requests be known because God does not know what they are. He wants to commune with us.

Then verse 34 stood out like a neon light. “And Jesus IN PITY touched their eyes and immediately they recovered their sight and...[another important point]...followed him.” They knew who he was, but the only thing stopping them was their blindness. When they got their sight back, they followed him. I have a feeling Jesus saw all of this before it even happened. However, he wanted them to reveal their hearts to him. He wants the same from us.

Are we admonished in scripture to lean into his heart that feels pity for us? Peter reminds us in his first book, chapter 5, verse 7, to “Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you.” Why would Peter tell us to do that if it would not amount to anything? He cares for us, and feels pity during our times of distress.

John 15:4 is an invitation to abide in him as he abides in us. This is another way he shows his concern and pity for us. I have wondered what “abide” refers to. One definition is “to live or dwell.” Carol and I have been in our home for nearly 30 years now. When we come home, kick off our shoes, get comfortable, we immediately feel like we belong there. We are safe, protected. We abide; we don’t just keep our belongings there, but our lives are anchored there. So it is with us abiding in Christ. He is with us, in us, and living with us. We are anchored in him. He has given us the promise of his constant presence.

Faith and trust are fundamental not only to pleasing God, but to abiding in him as well. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Someone said that faith is taking God’s hand and walking into the unknown or darkness. The scriptures call faith substance and evidence. (Hebrews 11:1)

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in him and not to lean on ourselves. He will direct us. He will do it in his own time, but it will happen.

The two blind guys had faith in him. They knew who he was, and received their sight. Jesus had pity on them and granted their requests. He relates to us no differently. He feels our pain. He understands our sorrow. He can sustain us through difficult times, because he cares for us and feels pity, the kind in which he really does know and feel our pain and deepest needs. He wants to bear them with us.

He has called us to spread his love and grace to those around us. Our job is to experience the heart of Jesus and share his love, his caring love.

Thanks be to God.