June 5, 2021
Eyes of Empathy
Jeff Cinquemani
In a series of small conversations that Jesus has with his disciples and others, you get this picture that Jesus saw far deeper than just the question at hand. Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the man who sat paralyzed by a superstitious pool—each time Jesus looks into their questions and poses another question that digs deep into the real issue. Why does Jesus do this? Is he just wanting his miracles to mean more? Is he trying to get everyone to see how superficial they are at grasping life's seemingly huge obstacles? Or is there a deeper cause for this insight into our present problems?
As a way of showing us to look beyond the surface, Jesus teaches us to see a new perspective, perhaps to find a better understanding. He asks us to empathize, and there is no better example of Jesus' empathy than in Matthew 19. Here he creates a new view of what it might look like if his disciples looked at life from a different set of eyes—eyes of empathy.
As a way of showing us to look beyond the surface, Jesus teaches us to see a new perspective, perhaps to find a better understanding. He asks us to empathize, and there is no better example of Jesus' empathy than in Matthew 19. Here he creates a new view of what it might look like if his disciples looked at life from a different set of eyes—eyes of empathy.