“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:14 (ESV)
Throughout His years of ministry, Jesus never set out to draw crowds to Him. He never put on spectacles or shows to attract the multitude. In fact, early on in His ministry, He instructed many of those He healed not to tell anyone about Him.
It was Jesus’ love and compassion that drew people to Him. Sure, many followed Jesus for the healing, and some came to see a show. But healing was always secondary to His main purpose: obeying the Father’s will and loving those He came to save.
He mingled with the people, ate with them, talked with them, and entered their homes. That’s what He’s called you and me to do: to love first of all, to be a light in the darkness, to extend loving hands to the hurting, and to do everything we do with a heart of compassion.
Thought: “Compassion means full immersion in the condition of being human.” Henri Nouwen