The Epitome of Kindness and Compassion

Elder Wirthlin said, “Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion.”  I think that we consider Christ to be the perfect example because of both how He taught us to live as well as what He did in His mortal ministry.  The Sermon on the Mount that He gave especially teaches us to treat others with love and kindness.  He told us, “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (Matt. 5:39-41).  Despite how incredibly difficult it is to do, He commanded us, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).  He summarized how we should treat others with what some call the golden rule: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12).  Clearly if we could live up to those teachings we would be people of incredible kindness and compassion. 

                 Even more powerful than His teachings, His actions showed us that though He was unwavering in His commitment for us and Him to keep His Father’s commandments, He was also full of compassion and kindness.  Again and again we see how He cared for the individual in healing them from their ailments.  We read, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matt. 4:23).  Later Matthew recorded that “great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all” (Matt. 12:15).  Luke put it this way: “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all” (Luke 6:19).  From the gospel accounts it seems probable that the number of individuals He personally healed was in the thousands.  In several instances we specifically read of the compassion that He had.  On one occasion after having healed many people we read that “when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36).  Before performing the miracle of multiplying the bread and fishes, “Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick” (Matt. 14:14).  Clearly that compassion led Him to provide food for the five thousand.  He similarly stated “I have compassion on the multitude” before miraculously feeding the four thousand (Matt 15:32).  When two blind men sought His help, “Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight” (Matt. 20:34).  When a leper approached him “beseeching him” to make him clean, “Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean” (Mark 1:41).  When He found the widow of Nain who had lost her son, “he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not” before He raised her son from the dead (Luke 7:13).  When He was among the Nephites and about to leave after the first day, He said to the multitude who wished Him to stay, “Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.”  After this He healed all who were sick and brought all of their children before Him and “wept” and “blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them” (3 Nephi 17:6, 21).  These accounts and others indeed confirm that Jesus was full of compassion for all and lived a life serving and helping others.  He is the perfect example to follow, and as President Monson encouraged us, “Let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable.”