Compassion seems utterly missing in the Holy Land, a land where Jews, Muslims and Christians all live. There have been:

—Massacres of Jews, including women and children, on a quiet Sabbath morning (the most Jews murdered for being Jews since the Holocaust ended in 1945); and

—Relentless bombardments of Palestinians, including women and children, worsening the lack of water, healthcare and food.

Ironically, Muslims love Allah, the Compassionate. Jews love the LORD who is compassionate. (Exodus 34:6-7). Christians follow the Way of Jesus who embodies the compassion of the LORD.

And yet, as of the date I write this blog, Hamas has not shown compassion by immediately setting free all hostages kidnapped by Hamas barbarically on October 7th. (Exodus 6:10-11).

Furthermore, as of the date I write this blog, no meaningful ways have been found by Jews, Muslims and Christians to supply water, healthcare and food to innocent civilians, including women and children. No safe corridors for such supplies. No safe places for healthcare. No safe passages to evacuate innocents.

Those of us who follow the Way of Jesus (including the many Palestinians who are Christians) bear a special responsibility to encourage compassion, even amidst kidnappings, genocide, terror and war.

Compassion was central to the teachings and ministries of Jesus.

Jesus commands us: “[L]ove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus rebuked his disciples when they wanted to call down fire from heaven on a village that did not welcome Jesus. (Luke 9:54).

Instead, Jesus commanded his disciples to give thirsty people a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus. Such kind people “will not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42).

Jesus warned us that on the Day of Judgment people will be judged based on whether they helped those who are hungry, thirsty, unsheltered, ill-clothed, sick, or in prison. Those who do not help such people “will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46).

Jesus commands us to be Good Samaritans, helping and healing ALL hurting people, even if we have been taught to hate them due to their religion, race or nationality.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

How can we encourage compassion in the Holy Land?

How should Hamas express compassion in the Holy Land? To their hostages?

How can governments express compassion in the Holy Land?

How can the international community express compassion in the Holy Land?

How can charities express compassion in the Holy Land?

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For my thoughts about healing the Holy Land, please read my blog “Healing the Holy Land”.

For related thoughts, please read my blog about September 11th: “Raising the Star-Spangled Banner—Americans”, and my books The Promised Land, especially at pages 21-24, and Visions of America, Visions of the Church, especially at pages 11-18, 149-151, 211-212, and 215-216.

For the dangers from wars that spin out of control, please read my blogs “A War That Spun Out of Control: The American Civil War” and “A War That Spun Out of Control: World War I”.

For my thoughts about the War in Ukraine, please read my blog “Wishful Thinking: No Calories From Birthday Cakes” and the blogs referenced therein.

For my thoughts from my pilgrimage to the Promised Land in early 2023, please read my blogs “The Immense, Towering Rock Overcomes the ‘Gates of Hell’”, “Moving the Temple Mount”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Desolations”, “Come and See the Promised Land: A Place of Abundance”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Where Jesus Stayed”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Jesus of Nazareth”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Jesus Weeping”, “Come and See the Promised Land: Jesus Praying”, “Come and See the Promised Land: The Crucifixion of Jesus”, “Come and See the Promised Land: The Burial of Jesus, the Suffering Servant”, and “Come and See the Promised Land: The Resurrection of Jesus”.