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"For we have not a high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time
of need." Hebrews 4:15,16.
The Christian Faith emphasises certain desirable attitudes
people to people, virtues not always highly valued and practised.
Like sympathy, that to be sympathetic to others is a Christian
duty. Edmund Burke explained: "Next to love sympathy
is the divinest passion of the human heart."
In this saying he was echoing the sentiment of Jesus whose
life was constantly a sympathetic response to the needs of
people.
Nowhere in pre-Christian literature do we find a view of
mankind more high minded than that of the New Testament and
of Jesus who set an example in His treatment of people. He
said, and showed, that everyone is precious to God. Wherever
the influence of Jesus is felt everyone is seen to be of equal
value. Refusal to recognise the equality of man with man is
a denial of the concept of God and how He regards human relations.
Jesus encouraged people to care for one another and he taught
by example. His most easily recognised characteristic was
compassion for others.
"He was moved with compassion" was a frequent reference
to Him. He would not have walked past someone in trouble.
He had to help unlike the priest and the levite but like the
kindly Samaritan of His story. When He saw need He responded,
regardless of cost and consequences.
Dr. Semmelweis, a Hungarian doctor, was so annoyed at the
child-birth deaths in his hospital, due to lack of cleanliness
and care of surgeons, physicians and nurses, that he forced
changes in order to prevent the continuance of this horrifying
situation.
It was said of him: "Semmelweis only had pity."
He acted like the Jesus whom he served faithfully and diligently.
Jesus who watched and wept and prayed and felt for all. His
sympathy was in words and deeds.
His kindly, sympathetic attitude to life is illustrated in
how He treated His own home. There was no Joseph when Jesus
was still a young fellow so His ministry was put on hold until
His home was on firm footing. The cares and concerns of His
early life are everywhere evident in parable and metaphor.
It was out of experience He spoke of home life and working
for a living. The writer of Hebrews had this in mind when
he described Jesus as not being a High Priest, who cannot
be touched with people's problems, but the one who is always
available to hear and help because He knows their difficulties.
He told them God cared for them personally and collectively.
The Incarnation is the evidence of the God who cared so much
that in Jesus He took human life, was made man, and died as
a man. It meant for Jesus Gethsemane and Calvary.
Paul described it: "Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no
reputation, and took the form of a servant; and was made in
the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, He
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death even the death
of the Cross." Phillipians 2: 5-8.
The Cross showed His sympathy with and concern for people.
He is the God of mercy and pity, loving and generous to all
who trust in Him.
Sympathy is of the essence of Christianity. It is at the
very heart of the faith, for a kindly word, a helping hand
are limitless for good. The human heart finds shelter in human
kind.
It is the antithesis of selfishness. Nothing is more distasteful
than an insensitivity to others which wraps a man up in himself,
and his own interests, so that he is not moved by either the
joys or sorrows of other people. Sensitivity and sympathy
to the needs of others are always needed in a caring society.
They should be the most obvious qualities of Christian for
Christ is the personification of these virtues. His call to
us is always "follow me".
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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