The Chosen + BibleProject | Season 2 Reading PlanНамуна

Surprised by Compassion

Imagine a scenario where you’ve done something foolish and wronged someone. The consequences are significant, and you feel a sense of regret and shame, wishing you could go back and make a different choice. You know that people will be disappointed with you, if not angry, especially the person you’ve wronged. You’re alone, muttering to yourself, “How could I be so dumb? What’s wrong with me?”

Suddenly, to your surprise, the person you’ve wronged approaches you with open arms and pulls you in for a friendly embrace. “It’s okay,” you hear. “I love you. I understand, and we are going to be just fine.”

Compassion like this is hard to understand, but it feels amazing when you experience it. It’s powerful knowing that in your pain and suffering, even if you’ve brought it on yourself, there’s another person who still loves and cares for you. Compassion changes us when we give it and when we receive it.

The man experiencing paralysis near the pool at Bethesda is shocked when Jesus pays attention to him. Jesus is attuned to this hurting, hopeless man, and he asks him if he wants to be healed. The man seems to miss Jesus’ invitation, instead obsessing about a healing superstition related to the pool itself and complaining about the way others refuse to help him. Instead of giving up on the man, Jesus patiently—and compassionately—pursues him until he is fully restored.

The religious “experts” observing this scene believe they know the Sabbath law better than anyone, and they are convinced that Jesus is breaking it. It’s more important to them to condemn Jesus’ interpretation of Scripture than it is to help the paralyzed man. They are so concerned with being known as authorities that they don’t care about the well-being of others.

People had seen this man at the pool for years, but no one had helped him by getting him in the water that was believed to offer healing. Jesus goes out of his way to help the man, and his life is utterly transformed.

May we strive to be like Jesus, leaning into the compassionate ways of God that bring about healing rather than wielding judgment against others. May we remember that however foolish we have been, however much we have done wrong, we can rest in God’s compassionate nature. He can be trusted to wrap his arms around us and say, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” To receive the gift of God’s compassion is to receive great healing.

Reflection Questions

1. Can you recall a time when another person showed real compassion toward you? How did you feel then, and how does it make you feel to remember it now?
2. Why do you think no one showed compassion to the paralyzed man by the pool of Bethesda? What kinds of pressures or beliefs keep us from showing compassion to people around us?
3. How would you describe the difference between being compassionate and being nice toward others? In your own life, would you prefer that people act nicely or compassionately toward you?