Divine Sympathy

Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" - Mark 7:34

How it must have saddened the heart of Jesus to walk through this world and see so much human misery! There is a story of a sculptor who wept as he saw at his feet the shattered fragments of his broken marble, on which he had spent years of patient, loving toil.

Jesus walked through this world amongst the ruin of the cherished work of His own hands. Everywhere He saw the destruction wrought by sin. His grief was twofold - tender sympathy with human suffering, and sorrow over the work of sin.

It is a precious thought to us that we are so dear to Jesus that our grief touches and stirs His heart. What a wonderful revelation it is to us that He thinks of us and that He cares enough for us to be moved to sorrow by our sorrows and sufferings!

Christ's help does not end with mere sympathy. That is about as far as human help usually goes. People stand over us when we having some misfortune or trouble, heave a sigh, and then pass on. Sometimes this is all they can do. Human sympathy towards our suffering is a wonderful help; but the assurance of divine sympathy is infinitely more uplifting.

Christ gives real help. He was moved with compassion as He saw the widow of Nain in her lonely sorrow, and restored her dead son to her. He wept with Mary and Martha, and then raised their brother. He sighed as He looked on the misfortune of this deaf man, and then opened his ears. He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and then gives “grace to help in time of need.”

Not only does He show compassion for us when He finds us deaf to all the sweet voices of love and grace found in scripture, but He is ready to open our ears. We have only to bring our infirmities to Christ and He will take them and restore us to hope and peace.

Apply This To Your Life Today... Are you anxious and need Christ's listening ear? Call on Him and let him restore lost hope and peace in your life.