Stronger, Detailed, Compassion

by Mike Killebrew

Chances are good that you have seen episodes of "The Chosen." If, for some crazy reason, you haven’t yet, I and millions of other people would recommend setting aside a weekend to do some binge-watching of this great multi-season series about the life of Jesus. Can you tell I’m a fan? When I first watched it, I started recommending it; some of my close friends told me I was a little too insistent. They are, of course, now fans. According to the Angel Studios website, "The Chosen" is slated to release seven seasons, with season four being released in 2024. I’ve got my popcorn ready. 

Like most shows on the big screen, watching "The Chosen" is not a substitute for reading the book, because the book is always better. I bring this up to clarify the depth of my fandom; there is no substitute for the Word of God. I’ve appreciated the episodes that I have watched and look forward to continuing to do so. I appreciate the acting, the creativity, and the way it has enhanced my desire to pay closer attention to the book and further recognize the goodness of God. 

One very specific way that it captured my attention while watching the first season is the way it developed the character of Matthew. I appreciate how the writers took some artistic liberties to create personality traits. It was artistic, but I think it was based on the details of his writing style in his gospel and some of the things we do know about him. I enjoyed how they portrayed his character, giving special attention to details that other disciples missed. When I’ve studied Matthew’s account, I’ve noticed his attention to details in his writing. What gospel writer starts off with the genealogy? It was Matthew, and he was the only one. I suspect there aren’t any writing instructors who would suggest the introduction be a list of names. However, we all know it’s a wonderful start to the New Testament and an important part of the redemptive story of God. Matthew gives a very detailed account of the story of Jesus. 

There is a detail in the Gospel of Matthew that makes me think of the artistic character development as portrayed in "The Chosen." Matthew used the word "compassion" more frequently than the other Gospel writers. Compassion is a detail that he used to describe the impetus for Jesus to act in four separate instances. The first three of these instances were regarding the crowds that were surrounding him, and the fourth was his encounter with two individuals in the crowd who asked him for help. These were not moments of compassion for those in his inner circle, his small group, or his close friends. These were moments described about the crowds and two individuals in the crowd. 

• In Matthew 9:35-37, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

• Shortly after Jesus learns of John the Baptist's death in Matthew 14:13-14, Matthew documents the moment “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” 

• In Matthew 15:32, “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” It was at this moment that Jesus took the 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish, and he fed the crowd of 4,000 people. 

• In Matthew 20:29-34, amongst the crowd, two blind men shouted for help and “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” 

It seems plausible to me that Matthew, with great intention, used the word "compassion" to describe Jesus’ reaction towards the crowds and towards the two blind men. I believe that he emphasized this because compassion wasn’t his first response. I don’t think I’d describe Matthew as “Mr. Compassion.” Perhaps it stood out as an important detail to him because of how it impacted him personally. Jesus showed compassion in instances where most others, especially Matthew, did not. As a tax collector by profession, he likely was very skilled at not showing compassion to the crowd or those suffering. Jesus did the opposite of what Matthew was thinking or would have done, and this would have been noticeable and worthy of including in the retelling of the story. 

There are some personality types that naturally show compassion, and I love being around those people. They often have a great influence on me; compassion is contagious. I can easily be moved to action when I watch others express compassion. I’ll admit, I don’t naturally show compassion. I’m certainly capable of having and showing compassion, but it’s not my instinct. I’m usually not the first person to be overwhelmed with emotion and sympathy towards a stranger in need. I sometimes need to be shown what it looks like to have sympathy and concern for someone, specifically those in the crowd that I do not know, who are suffering. 

I'm grateful that Jesus continues to show me what it looks like to have compassion through the Word but also through the Holy Spirit at work in those around me. I'm thankful that he has shown me compassion! I'm also grateful to God for the others in my life who make it so easy to see Jesus in them because of their compassion. As I reflect on the journey of growing stronger in compassion, I am reminded that just as Matthew highlighted the moments of compassion in his Gospel, we too can strive to be stronger with this virtue in our lives. 

Much like the character of Matthew in “The Chosen,” who learned to embody compassion even when it may not have come naturally, we can learn, letting compassion shape our interactions and responses. So, as we continue our own stories, let's keep compassion at the forefront, allowing it to guide our actions and draw us closer to the example of Jesus Christ.