• 10/4/26

Empathy and Compassion (TOV: Week 3)

Teaching Summary:

John 11 shows that Christlike empathy does not respond to every person in the same way. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, Lazarus, and His disciples, yet His love took different forms according to what each person needed. He delayed going to Bethany because His disciples needed a deeper faith. He met Martha’s grief with truth, declaring that He is the resurrection and the life. He entered Mary’s sorrow, was deeply moved, and wept with those who were grieving. At Lazarus’s tomb, Jesus demonstrated compassion through action, calling Lazarus out of death and revealing God’s glory so that others might believe in Him.

Empathy seeks to see, enter, and understand another person’s experience and needs. Compassion moves us to respond for that person’s good. When we submit to Jesus as Lord, we learn to consider another person’s true good, speak truth with love, enter the sorrow of those who are hurting, respond to the needs of others with compassionate action, and point people to the hope found in Jesus.

Talk-it-Over

Jesus delayed going to Lazarus so that His disciples would believe. How does this challenge our assumptions about what a loving response should look like?

Jesus responded to Martha with truth and entered Mary’s sorrow. What can this teach us about understanding another person’s needs before responding?

Which practice of Christlike empathy do you most need to develop: considering another person’s true good, speaking truth with love, entering sorrow, taking compassionate action, or pointing people to Jesus?

What is one next step you need to take today?

Who do you need to tell about what you’ve learned?