Season 1 Episode 6 The Compassionate Jesus

[Dr. Shane]

The compassion of Jesus is noted several times in the New Testament. I am currently reading the gospel of Mark during my daily devotions and read Mark 6:34. "When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." The context of the verse is that Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds with His disciples to find a desolate place. Yet, when saw the crowd waiting for Him, He had compassion. A childhood friend of mine, Pastor Nate Furness, is now the pastor at Pacific Union College. He tells me that grace comes first. I see that in this episode. He shows compassion for the leper. He shows compassion for Simon's family situation. He shows compassion for the paralytic. As He was leaving, He stopped to look at Matthew, a look of compassion. 

Last week I made a post about Season 1 Episode 7 but I got the episodes confused and labeled that post "Episode 6 Responding to Light" .  In 2023, I posted on Episode 6 and focused on a different theme. I will post that again in the comments below.

Now, getting back to the theme of compassion, have you heard the ice cream song? We used to sing it with our children when they were young. There were times it would bring tears to my eyes because it is about me. When that song becomes about you, it may bring tears to your eyes too.

I love Jesus better than ice cream,
and ice cream is really good.
I love Jesus better than ice cream,
just like I know I should.
Even when I disobey and
don’t do the things I should,
Jesus loves me better than ice cream,
and ice cream is really good!

[Dr. Shane]

Did Nicodemus make the case for Christians today to consider the teachings of Ellen G. White?  Starting at minute marker 1:27 in the video clip below Nicodemus asks Schmuel, "So you would place limits on the Almighty?"  In the episode, Nicodemus is making the case for the possibility that God could incarnate Himself as a Man.  Nicodemus continues, "And if God did something that you felt contradicted the Torah, would you tell Him to get back in that box that you have carved for Him? Or would you question your interpretation of the Torah?"  A bit later he says, "fear alone ensures we remain ignorant, asleep in the safety of rigid tradition."  Then, "I don't want to live in some bleak past where God cannot do anything new, do you?"  Finally, "Let's look to the ancient roads where the good way is and walk in it, as Jeremiah says.  And still keep our eyes open to the startling and unexpected."

This same argument being used in this episode to consider the incarnation of God can be used to consider an end-time prophet.  Many Christians claim the gift of prophecy died with the disciples and cling to church tradition instead of applying Biblical tests to the claims of modern-day prophets.

Click link to view the -> Scene from The Chosen