Compassion means recognizing the suffering of others and then taking action to help. It's a tangible expression of love for those who are suffering or in need.
1 Corinthians 12:26
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Compassion is to be our response to suffering ... we all experience suffering in one way or another.
Totally agree!
I believe that this "compassion" is one major attribute at the core of God's heart (this word alone is sprinkled all throughout the Old Testament in reference to God) and as revealed by His Son (in the New Testament) - along with "mercy" and "grace".
Psalm 86:15 NKJV
"But You, O Lord,
are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth."
Mark 1:41-42 NKJV
"Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed."
Note Jesus' willingness to touch an unclean, contagious leper (thank God for ALL of our sakes!).
How deep is Jesus' compassion:
John 11:32-35 NKJV
"Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
"Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
And how He, indeed, demonstrated the Father's compassion by sharing in our suffering:
Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV
"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
And thusly:
Hebrews 4:15 NKJV
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
How do we extend this same compassion? God has made it possible to those sealed by His Holy Spirit:
Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Great OP, wikey!
If you are further interested, check out "35 Top Bible Verses About Compassion":
It's not always easy to show compassion, especially when we feel like the person deserves their misfortune. These Bible verses about compassion teach us that Jesus is the greatest example for us and that showing compassion is a true mark of Christian character.
www.biblestudytools.com
God bless!
