Authority and Compassion

Recently I finished reading a book called Killing Cockroaches by a guy named Tony Morgan. If I ever write a book, it will probably be one like this one. The whole thing is just a collection of his blog posts. Heck, if that's all it takes to write a book, I've already written one or two. Anyways, in part of his book, Morgan gives a list of reasons why he blogs, and I was surprised when one of them was "People send me free stuff." What?! I've been doing this for two and a half years, and not one of you chumps has sent me anything! It's time for you saps to pick up your end of the deal.

Now that I've totally alienated the bulk of my readership, let me get to what I want to write about today. I have been spending some time reading the gospel of Mark over the past couple weeks. I love that, even though I've read Mark I don't know how many times in my life, God continues to illuminate different things for me. As I have been reading it, I have been struck by the way that, over and over again, Mark points out Jesus' twin characteristics of authority and compassion. On one hand, Jesus demonstrates incredible power and strength, both in word and deed. On the other hand, Jesus is compassionate--he feels concern and love for the crowds that continuously press in on him. These characteristics are not at odds with each other in Jesus, however. They go together. Jesus has authority and compassion, and one does not diminish the other.

We see it from the very beginning of Mark's gospel. Even in the first chapter, we read about Jesus teaching in the synagogue and driving out an evil spirit. After the exorcism, the people in the synagogue are amazed and say, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him" (1:27). So right away, we are reminded of Jesus' power and authority (which is demonstrated again in the next passage when Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law, plus everyone else who comes to him that night.) Later in the chapter, a man with leprosy comes to Jesus, begging him to make him clean. Then Mark tells us, "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!'" (1:41). Here, we obviously see Jesus compassion. He reaches out and touches those that the rest of society expels. He embraces those that the world pushes away.

It's much of the same for the rest of the gospel. (Or at least through chapter nine, which is where I am now.) Jesus declares that he has "authority on earth to forgive sins" (2:10). He identifies himself as "Lord [authority!] even of the Sabbath" (2:28). Jesus is the strong man who invades Satan's house and ties him up [more authority] (3:27). The disciples are terrified because "even the wind and the waves obey him [even more authority]" (4:41). A legion of demons recognizes that Jesus has the power to torture them [and yes, once again, more authority] (5:7).

In the same way, Jesus' compassion shows up again and again. Jesus eats dinner with tax collectors and sinners, because they are the sick who need a doctor (2:17). He heals a man with a shriveled hand who was ignored by the religious establishment (3:5). When he tries to get some time alone with his disciples but is intercepted by a huge crowed, "he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd", so he feeds all 5000+ of them (6:34). He heals the daughter of a Syro-Phonecian woman [which Jews would read as "dirty, nasty, unclean, flea-ridden Gentile] (7:30). And, when he feeds yet another crowd of thousands, he says, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat" (8:2).

Authority and compassion. Authority and compassion. You can't get away from them when you read Mark. My favorite story that illustrates this is the account of Jairus' daughter and the bleeding woman--two stories that are twisted together like the strands of a rope. In this text in Mark 5:21-43, both Jairus and the woman are afraid at some point. The woman, who had snuck up behind Jesus, touched his cloak, and been healed, trembles with fear when Jesus finds her out. Why? I think she was afraid that Jesus lacked compassion. She was afraid that he would rebuke her and condemn her for being so presumptuous as to think she can just come up and touch the clothes of such a popular miracle-worker. But, contrary to her fear, she experiences a special display of Jesus' compassion. He doesn't scorn her. He tenderly says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." What a compassionate Christ.

Then there's Jairus. He had come to Jesus to see if he would heal his sick daughter, but while Jesus was busy dealing with the bleeding woman, his daughter had died. So Jairus is afraid, but for a different reason. He is afraid that Jesus lacked authority. He perhaps doubted Jesus' power. Healing a girl is one thing, but bringing her back to life is quite another. Perhaps this one was simply out of Jesus' reach. But then Jesus looks at Jairus and says, "Don't be afraid! Just believe." Then Jesus goes to Jairus' home and brings his daughter back to life, demonstrating that he even has authority over the grave. What a powerful Christ.

At times in life, I am afraid, and I would think that you may be also. Sometimes we are afraid that Jesus does not have authority. We think that there might be a situation in our lives that is just too much for him to handle. We're not sure if he can come through this time. Or, on the other hand, we may be afraid that Jesus does not have compassion. We think that he is unconcerned with our problems. We figure, "He has more important things to worry about, after all." However, the story of Jairus and the bleeding woman (as well as the rest of Mark) reminds us that Jesus has authority and compassion. He is all-powerful and all-loving. And that means being his child is a very good thing to be.

This also has an affect on how we think about our own ministries and our own lives as Christians. If we follow Jesus, we too should be characterized by authority and compassion. We have authority, not in ourselves, but because we preach God's Word and have his Spirit dwelling within us. So let's be bold, not shrinking back, but standing firm through any circumstance. Not only that, but we must have compassion. Let's see other people the way that Jesus sees them--as his children and his flock that are lost without him. Let's reach out and touch the untouchable, love the unlovable, and embrace the outcasts.

Authority and compassion. We see it in Jesus. So let's help the world see Jesus in us.