#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Bowels Of Mercy Of God
Matt. 1413When Jesus heard about John, He left in a boat and went to a deserted place to be alone. The people heard of it and followed Him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus stepped out of the boat, He saw a big crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed their sick.
What did Jesus hear about John? Earlier in this chapter we get the account of how Herod had put to death Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist by the schemes of his wife. You can imagine hearing about how a close relative was murdered by the local government would make you feel. Jesus being fully human no doubt was grieving deeply in his heart. He needed some time to get away by himself. When Jesus goes to be by himself he is usually spending that time in prayer.
His time alone was short lived though. As soon as the crowds heard Jesus had left they followed him on foot from the towns to find him. When he landed he found himself surrounded by a big crowd. Jesus, even in the middle of his own grief for the loss of his cousin felt sorry for them and healed their sick.
Jesus’ innards latterly and figuratively were stirred with compassion in his innermost being for these people. Jesus often has this reaction to the crowds that he meets. He sees them as sheep without a shepherd and as sheep whose shepherds abuse them. The stirring of his innards is not only according to his human nature but also to his divine being. Indeed, Jesus being born for the mission of dying upon the cross demonstrates the Father’s compassion towards all humanity.
So great, Jesus feels compassion for the people. Well that compassion translates into action when it comes to Jesus and the Father. Jesus moved by compassion in the midst of his own grief heals their sick. Because of his human nature this really wears upon Jesus as we can see elsewhere that after a period of healing the crowds that are brought to him he has to rest and get away for a while.
Isaiah spoke of what Jesus endured during these times in chapter 534 “Surely He has taken on Himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we observed that God had stricken, smitten, and afflicted Him. And certainly He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our sins; By His punishment, we were saved and by His wounds we were healed.” While I don’t think we can even imagine experiencing what Jesus was going through as he healed people Isaiah reveals to us he was taking upon himself our suffering and grief. What we feel in the midst of the suffering our diseases and troubles Jesus also felt in his flesh. Ultimately, those healings were born in his body in Pilate’s court as the Roman soldiers took a whip to Jesus’ back. Those stripes bring us healing now and finally at the resurrection of all flesh.
Such is the compassion, the inner stirrings of Jesus’ innards, his bowels of mercies towards you when he sees you suffering. But for the joy set before him, your salvation to eternal life, Jesus endured these things for you so you may find ultimate healing in his wounds on the day of judgment and may be found whole and holy.
Heavenly Father, may the bowels of your mercies be directed toward us in the midst of our suffering and grief that we may find relief and rest in the wounds of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, both now and in eternity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.