BEFORE LEADERSHIP CLASSES WERE CREATED

“Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your illness.” Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” But the Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As He was saying this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.” (Luke 13:10-17 The Amplified Bible)

Centuries before universities incorporated Leadership Courses in their business degree and organizational leadership curriculums; ages before consultants started merchandising their services to help organizations foster excellent interactions skills through costly training programs, Jesus taught us by word and by examples about showing empathy to others. The scriptures above are a perfect example of Jesus demonstrating empathy. Jesus did not merely have sympathy for the woman who for 18 years had had an illness, no sir, no ma’am! Jesus had empathy for the woman who was bent over and could not straighten out. In other words, Jesus understood and felt what the woman was going through. And furthermore, empathy was the impetus for Him doing something to help the woman. Therefore, the principle for showing empathy finds its origin in the Lord.

As disciples, we must strive more and more to be like Jesus. Well, one of the areas that most of us must improve is moving from sympathy to empathy; empathy that leads to actions, doing what we can do with the power that we have. Let me tell you something. Showing empathy does not have to be in a circumstance like the woman’s circumstance above. You can show empathy in daily conversations, in disciplining young children and adult subordinates, in discussing someone’s difficult dilemma, and in discovering, seeing someone in need of your help, that God has put you in the path of someone for a purpose.

Before “Leadership” classes were created, before the first “Organizational Leadership” curriculum was designed, the One who was there in the creation, the One by whom all things were created, the One named Jesus, He pointed unequivocably to how we, as followers, as His disciples, ought to show empathy.  Let us take advantage of this meditation and move from sympathy to empathy. Wait a minute! I was going to close as usual but first let me ask you to read the passage above again, as well as the passage below. Now, I can close! Be blessed!

“Jesus went around visiting all the towns and villages. He taught in the synagogues, preached the Good News about the Kingdom, and healed people with every kind of disease and sickness. As he saw the crowds, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So he said to his disciples, “The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38 The Good News Translation)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King