In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar."
Mark 8:1-3
This little passage of Scripture speaks volumes about who Jesus is. First, we see that He is chock-full of compassion. He is so sensitive and loving to recognize the needs of the people. Jesus absolutely, unequivocally loves and cares for every need that you have! And the love that Jesus shows His people is the same love that we should also show towards others. Look at 1 John 4:10-11:
"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
You see, the love that Jesus has shown us should spill over into every relationship that we have. What greater call is there in life than to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors!
Second, we see that Jesus knows His people. When He looked at the multitude, He knew how much they had traveled, that they were hungry, and that they were weary. He knew exactly what they were feeling and what they needed. And right now, this very minute, Jesus Christ in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, knows you and me. He knows everything about us. There is nothing hidden in your mind or your heart that isn't known to Him. Those little secrets of your life that are hidden from anybody's knowledge; those areas that you have kept at arm's-length from people--these are all places to which Jesus has complete access. He knows how you feel and what you're experiencing. He knows you!
Do you see how these two go together? When we have compassion for people, our eyes are open and sensitive to their needs. Likewise, if we're not full of love and compassion, we get wrapped up in our own lives and problems, and we don't even see the hurts and pains of others around us. So, what better thing today than to know that Jesus Christ knows you and has compassion for you! He'll never use His knowledge about you against you. He hears your voice and He feels your pain. He knows you and knows exactly what you need.
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5).
