Family Devotional Lesson: The Compassion of Jesus

Family Worship Lesson on Luke 13:10-17

Justin Hoke

7/17/20242 min read

Family Devotional Lesson: The Compassion of Jesus

Scripture Passage: Luke 13:10-17

Opening Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together today to study your Word. Open our hearts and minds to understand and apply your teachings. Help us to see your compassion and love in our lives and reflect it towards others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."

Introduction: Today, we will look at a passage from the Gospel of Luke that shows Jesus’ compassion and how He responds to those in need. This story will help us understand the importance of compassion and how we can follow Jesus’ example in our daily lives.

Reading the Scripture: Read Luke 13:10-17 aloud. You can have different family members read the verses to involve everyone.

Context and Explanation:

  • Setting: Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath.

  • Main Characters: Jesus, a woman with a spirit of infirmity, and the ruler of the synagogue.

  • The Miracle: Jesus heals a woman who has been crippled for eighteen years.

  • The Reaction: The ruler of the synagogue is indignant because Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

  • Jesus’ Response: Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the ruler and emphasizes the importance of showing compassion.

Discussion Points:

  1. Jesus' Compassion:

    • Jesus saw the woman’s suffering and called her to Himself. He did not wait for her to ask for help but took the initiative to heal her.

    • Discuss: How does Jesus’ compassion in this story make you feel? Have you experienced or seen acts of compassion in your life?

  2. The Response of the Religious Leader:

    • The ruler of the synagogue was more concerned with keeping the Sabbath rules than with the woman’s healing.

    • Discuss: Why do you think the ruler reacted this way? Are there times when we focus too much on rules and miss opportunities to show compassion?

  3. Jesus’ Teaching on Hypocrisy:

    • Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders, showing that they would help their animals on the Sabbath but were angry when a human being was healed.

    • Discuss: What does this teach us about priorities in God’s eyes? How can we avoid hypocrisy in our lives?

  4. Application in Our Lives:

    • Reflect on ways we can show compassion to others in our daily lives, even when it might be inconvenient.

    • Discuss: Can you think of someone who needs compassion right now? What can we do as a family to help them?

Activity: Compassion in Action

  • Supplies Needed: Paper, pens, and envelopes.

  • Instructions: Each family member writes a letter or draws a picture for someone they know who could use encouragement or a reminder that they are cared for. Put these notes in envelopes and plan a time to deliver them together.

Closing Prayer: "Lord, thank you for teaching us about compassion through the example of Jesus. Help us to see others’ needs and respond with love and kindness. Guide us to live out your teachings in our daily lives and to make a difference in the lives of those around us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."

Conclusion: This lesson on the compassion of Jesus encourages us to be more aware of the needs of those around us and to act with love and kindness, reflecting Christ’s love in our actions.