Daily Word

A very interesting and important word is used of Jesus when it says that “he felt compassion for the crowds.”

Literally, it means that he was touched by intense feelings in His bowels, that is, in the depths of His being, the inward parts of the body.

It describes an extremely strong and profound sympathy, compassion, and tenderness.

Paul uses the same word about himself.

Literally, he says: “I long for you all with the bowels of Christ Jesus.”

And the word translated I “long for” is also a very strong word that means to yearn intensely and fervently.

What does all this mean?

That Paul was so completely invaded by the Spirit of Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ's deepest feelings, His innermost compassion had become Paul's deepest feelings and innermost tenderness.

In other words: Jesus Christ could fully and completely express himself in Paul's body, in his personality.

Our body is an expression of our personality.

In other words: the personality of Jesus Christ and the personality of Paul were one.

This is what Paul is trying to say in 1 Corinthians 6:17: he who is intimately associated with the Lord "is one spirit with Him."

"One spirit with the Lord" - one person with the Lord, one body with the Lord.

A complete union!

Then He can fully and completely express Himself in a person and do everything He wants through him.

Can Jesus express His tenderness and compassion in and through you and me?