August 2

Divine Sympathy

And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). — Mark 7:34 BSB

It must have deeply saddened Jesus’ heart to walk through this world and see so much human suffering. There’s a story of a sculptor who wept when he saw the shattered pieces of his sculpture lying at his feet, after years of patient, loving work.

Jesus walked through this world surrounded by the broken remains of the noblest work of His own hands. Everywhere He looked, He saw the destruction caused by sin. His grief was twofold—tender sympathy for human suffering, and sorrow over the terrible effects of sin.

It’s comforting to know that we are so dear to Jesus that our pain touches His heart. It’s a wonderful truth that He thinks of us and cares enough to be moved by our struggles and sorrows.

But Christ’s help doesn’t stop with His sympathy. Human compassion often goes no further than a sigh of pity. People may stand by us in our troubles, express their sorrow, and then move on, sometimes because that’s all they can do. Human sympathy is a great comfort, but divine sympathy is infinitely more powerful. Christ doesn’t just feel for us; He helps us. He felt compassion for the widow of Nain and restored her son to life. He wept with Mary and Martha and then raised their brother from the dead. He sighed as He saw the suffering of the deaf man and then opened his ears. Jesus is “touched by the feeling of our infirmities,” and He gives “grace to help in time of need.”

Not only does He pity us when He finds us spiritually deaf, unable to hear His words of love and grace, but He is ready to open our ears. We only need to bring our weaknesses to Him, and He will restore our souls to their full strength.