Let the Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: #11 Sympathy to the brethren..

Q: What does the Bible say about sympathy in Christ?

The Bible illustrates Christ's unmatched sympathy through his actions and compassion, such as weeping for Lazarus and raising him from the dead. In John 11, we see Christ's deep sympathy as he weeps with Mary and Martha over the death of Lazarus. His tears reveal not only his compassion but also His identity as the empathetic Savior who feels the pain of His people. This demonstrates that Christ, fully God and fully man, is intimately concerned with our struggles. His sympathy leads him to action, as He ultimately raises Lazarus from the dead, showcasing the essential link between sympathy and divine intervention.

Q: How do we know that Jesus cares for us?

Jesus shows His care through His actions, like raising Lazarus and providing for His mother on the cross. The life of Jesus is filled with acts of compassion that reveal His care for humanity. In John 19, while suffering on the cross, He provides for His mother Mary by entrusting her to the care of John. This moment encapsulates Christ's unwavering concern for those around Him, even in His greatest hour of suffering. Furthermore, in Luke 7, Jesus demonstrates profound sympathy by raising a widow's son from the dead, indicating that He actively seeks to alleviate our distress and cares deeply for our well-being.

Q: Why is showing sympathy important for Christians?

Showing sympathy is essential for Christians as it reflects the mind of Christ and demonstrates obedience to His teachings. Christians are called to embody the sympathy of Christ as a manifestation of their faith. In Luke 10, the parable of the Good Samaritan highlights that showing mercy is not just a suggestion but a command from Jesus: 'Go and do likewise.' This reflects the idea that true faith results in action, showing that believers are to have the heart of Christ and respond to the needs of others. Sympathy drives actionable compassion which aligns with the call to be doers of the Word, actively living out the Christian faith in love towards others.

Q: What can we learn from the story of the Good Samaritan?

The story of the Good Samaritan teaches that true neighborly love involves compassion and action, irrespective of cultural boundaries. The Good Samaritan parable not only emphasizes the importance of showing compassion but also challenges societal norms. In the story from Luke 10, the priest and the Levite, who were religious figures, chose to ignore the wounded man. In contrast, a Samaritan—someone despised by the Jews—stopped to help. This powerful lesson illustrates that true love and sympathy for others transcend cultural prejudices and entail personal sacrifice. It calls all believers to act regardless of unhelpful biases, emphasizing that showing mercy should be the heartbeat of Christian living.

turn to with me to John chapter 11 we'll start reading in verse 32 and again we're on lesson number 11 of the mind of Christ being in each of us as believers and tonight we're going to look at his sympathy towards his brethren his sympathy towards his brethren and even to all men as far as the reigning on the just and the unjust Let's look at John 11 starting verse 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was and saw him she sat down at his feet saying unto him Lord if thou hast been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, and said, Where have you laid him? And they said unto him, Come, Lord, and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold, how he loved him.

To see such a One as this, the Creator of everything, the lofty and pure One, this King, this Sovereign, this Man, and this flesh and blood among us, so affected in His person, to come to tears. What heart Felt pity what? sympathy for his chosen people the scripture says Jesus wept our Lord delighted to heal the brokenhearted he Was beside himself to bind up the wounds that sin had left upon his dear people he wept with those who wept We are also to have the same mind as our Lord Christ now as I usually do and divide us into two Two sections that is how our Lord was sympathetic to his people and then let us look at ourselves examine ourselves and see if we are as Sympathetic and now we know we can't redeem anyone by our tears let alone our blood our personal sacrifices that alone Belongs to our Lord of glory the Redeemer of men's souls the Savior of sinners and not to us But we are exhorted several places in the scriptures To be of the same mind.

Now, let's look at our Lord Christ for the first point Go back to here in John chapter 11 Christ shows his unmatched sympathy to Mary and Martha by raising up their brother Lazarus Now we see Christ declaring in the previous Section in chapter the same chapter 11.

He's talking about himself as the resurrection of the life He's this coursing upon himself and all that come to him for eternal life Then it's as almost as though he detours which the way the story reads He detours to have pity to show sympathy in the very midst of his labor. So it is not wrong for any of his people, right in the middle of our labor, and that could be work, that could be labor of love, that could be labor of preaching the gospel, to stop if the need arises. Again, it is better to obey than to sacrifice. We see that throughout the Scriptures. So Christ stops himself and we see such sorrow, such compassion shown to the ones he loved. Christ's sympathy, and I notice this in all these lessons, it has results.

He doesn't just show sympathy for sympathy's sake. He shows sympathy Then he saves and then he heals and then he does he does what the scripture says don't be a doer of the word Only don't don't don't be just a doer or a listener, but be a doer. Don't just be a listener and a hearer of the Word, but be a doer. It has results. It shows action, commitment, and mercy.

Let us look in Luke 7, Christ at the funeral in the city of Nain, Luke 7. Luke 7, and we'll start reading in verse 11. Luke 7, start reading in verse 11. There came to pass the day after that he went into a city called Nain, which is, this is Christ, and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her. pity he had, and we don't like that word pity, you know, I don't need your pity. Yes, we do. But what we're looking at here is sympathy, along the same vein. Kindness shown, even in the face of disagreement. And he came and he touched her. He had compassion on her and he said, don't weep. He told her not to weep. And he came and he touched the briar.

And they that bear him stood still. and he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up and began to speak, and he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear upon all, and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us, and that God hath visited his people." And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, throughout all the region roundabout. Now, again, he had compassion on her, and this compassion showed itself in action. Raised from the dead, gave her son back to her, and it's just, you know, the beauty of sympathy.

How about our blessed Lord and friend himself, Christ? Here he is on John 19, if you want to look at it. Let's look at this. Here he is on the cross, his greatest foe, I guess you could say, if you want to look at it that way. He's dying in this dying moment. in his dying moment. He's looking down from the cross at his anguished, an anguished mother and provided her a son and a home.

Now you talk about sympathy. compassion verse 25 of John 19 When Jesus therefore saw his mother and his type of disciples standing by whom he loved to have been John He stood under his mother woman behold thy son Then he said to the disciple behold thy mother and from that hour that disciple took her into his own home took her in to his own home that's That's that's amazing if there was ever sympathy like was there ever sympathy like his he's called son brother kinsman Savior all in one flesh and this flesh dwelt among us I Say before I start our second point let this mind be in us.

Let this mind be in us now What about us turn of Psalms? 72 Psalm 72 and verse 12 For he shall deliver the needy when he cries the poor also and him that hath no helper We were around people that have no helper are we around people who are poor and needy. Now this is obviously speaking of Christ, but the dual nature of the scripture or the dual thought. This is David, a man. So this is our calling as well, is to have sympathy and be kind and be merciful to people.

Turn with me to Luke chapter 10 to really illustrate. I've really not seen it, seen this verse this way. It really struck me. They convicted me. Luke chapter 10, starting in verse 30. You know this story, the good Samaritan, but there's a phrase in here. We like to skip over. I like to skip over. Luke 10, starting in verse 30, and Jesus answered and said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving that man half dead.

And by occasion or chance, there came down a certain priest. He's religious. He knows the law. He knows the prophets. came by that way, and when he saw that man laying in the gutter, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, the Levite, he was well versed in the law and legal aspects, all things Christian, so to speak. When he was at the place, he came and looked on him and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, and Jews don't have any dealings with Samaritans. They're the scum of the earth. They're like the elect. We know we're nothing in the sight of God, if it wasn't by His grace.

As he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. He had pity. He had sympathy on him. And he went to him and bound up his wounds, poured in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast. brought him to an end and took care of him.

Now, he took his time out of his day, work day or whatever. Again, obedience is better than sacrifice. And on the morrow, he departed. This guy that showed the Samaritan, he had to be somewhere or go somewhere or whatever. So life has its labors and its work days.

But he didn't leave him alone. He left them with the innkeeper, who I'm sure that during those days, they did such these things, take care of people. And he gave that man two pence and gave it to the host, the owner, I guess, and said to him, take care of him. So it's not one person's complete responsibility to take care of everybody.

We've got this church, it's a collective. It's a local ecclesia. That's another good reason to be a part of a brotherhood. You know, by yourself, you're in danger. I don't care how... I don't care what you say or what you think, the Scriptures are totally for congregational meeting. Sheep are gregarious. Husbands, it's not good for a husband to be alone, it's not good for a sheep to be alone.

That's all I'll say on that. So he gives this other gentleman responsibility to take care of it, gives him the money to do so. He didn't just say, be warmed and filled and walk away. And when I come again to you, I will repay you. Which now these, this is Christ's words now, which now these thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And they obviously knew a little bit and they said, he that showed mercy on him, Then Jesus said this, and this is what I've skipped, go and do likewise. That's it. There's no explanation. There's just simple, go and do likewise. If you say you're a believer, obedience, obedience.

And I'm reading an article on Isaiah 26.3 about the perfect peace of God by a man I've never heard named, I think Robert Tuck. Robert Tuck, T-U-C-K, out of the, he was a... homiletics person. He delved into scripture and divided them up.

If you ever get an opportunity, it's on the Pulpit Commentary and Ultimate Index, Isaiah 23.6. Look at what he says about the perfect peace of God to those who trust him. But he's saying one of these three things that is essential for peace in a believer is obedience. And I know we don't trust in our obedience. We trust in his obedience but his obedience Makes us obedient.

That's the best way or the only way I can think of saying it But anyway going back to our text go and do likewise. There's no if ands, but there's no well I gotta I gotta you know, I gotta go feed I gotta go look at the land that I purchased so i'm not gonna go to the wedding feast There's plenty of scriptures to back this up. I gotta I got a a new bride I gotta take care of all these different things So that why the scripture says seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added go and do likewise well, that's That's what the Lord Convicted me over and that's what I Pray that if you're the Lord that he does the same to you and then again, I've preached on this text Several times several different places. I hope it did good and What about Paul when Paul was chained to when he was going to Rome? He was a prisoner It's probably chained to a centurion And on the way to Rome he was getting discouraged very depressed like we all get ministers included good grief It's in acts chapter 28 if you want to look at it sometime He's on his way to Rome and there's a little stop or a little place in the road. It's still there today, apparently. It's called Abbey Forum. Abbey Forum. And what did he, what happened there? As he was going there, some brethren came down from Rome, I think about 30 miles.

Back then, it was not much harder than it is today. They took their time of the day, days, to get there and back, and they went when they heard that Paul was going to be there. for going through that way, they stopped. And what happened to Paul, who is a preacher by inspiration of God, most of the New Testament, I don't care who you are, you need fellowship, you need friendship, you need compassion, you need sympathy. It specifically says, when he saw them, when his face saw their face, He thanked God and took courage. Now that is someone who has received sympathy from another brother or sister who can only truly understand, not maybe everything, but many things that we go through. Another ding for gathering together. So he was shown sympathy in Acts 28 and verse 15.

And I asked that, I pray that the Lord, that may this characteristic be found in us by the Holy Spirit's enablings. We can't produce this. We can, I guess, to some degree, and we can fool people, but may it be the genuine man of the heart, the hidden man of the heart. And I pray that this would not be said of us, but I pray that the first thought that this characteristic of Paul, well, not Paul, but the sympathy shown Paul, and our Lord Christ, I pray that this characteristic would be Revealed to us and we may be obedient to the heavenly calling, but I pray that this would not this Characteristic this charge would not be found among us turn to Isaiah or sorry Psalm 69 closing Psalm 69 in verse 20 psalm 69 verse 20 reproach. This is obviously the lord but it It could be said of us it could be said of people who were trying to help Reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness. I look for some to take pity, but there was none And for comforters, but I found none.

I pray that that charge would not be laid against us Not only in reading the scriptures and feeling full pity and sympathy and compassion to our Lord, what he underwent for the sins, the horrible crimes of sins against God and humanity. That's all of us. and us in particular who have tasted that the Lord is gracious. So I pray that that charge will not be laid at our feet and that we as 1 Peter 4, 1 would arm ourselves likewise with the same mind. And we're speaking about the mind of Christ being in each and every one of us. Now remember, Only Christ can redeem the fallen, but we can show Christ-like sympathy to those who need it. I pray the Lord would add a blessing to the reading and the speaking proclamation of his word. Amen. Bruce, would you close us?

Let the Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: #11 Sympathy to the brethren..

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about sympathy in Christ?

How do we know that Jesus cares for us?

Why is showing sympathy important for Christians?

What can we learn from the story of the Good Samaritan?

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Let the Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: #11 Sympathy to the brethren..

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about sympathy in Christ?

How do we know that Jesus cares for us?

Why is showing sympathy important for Christians?

What can we learn from the story of the Good Samaritan?

Sermon Transcript

About Drew Dietz

Comments

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