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CONNIE: What kind of Savior does this world need? One who comes on with guns blazing, or one who comes on with arms outstretched in healing? Join us today for a look at The Compassionate Savior Giving God's trumpet a Certain Sound for more than 70 years, this is the Voice of Prophecy.

CONNIE: Hello, I'm Connie Jeffery,

LONNIE: I'm Lonnie Melashenko. Connie, we live in a world that's deeply in need of healing, wouldn't you say? There are definitely some things that need to be fixed--problems that have defied solutions for centuries, even millennia.

CONNIE: As we're preparing this program, which we of course always do a few weeks before the actual broadcast date, the news is not good from a number of areas, largely because of old wounds, old grudges, hatreds that continue to fester.

LONNIE: I think especially of Israel. We took a Voice of Prophecy tour group there in 1999, and just a couple of weeks ago my wife Jeannie and I, along with our development director Phil Draper, returned from another tour, but this time we chose a different destination. We visited Turkey, Greece, and Rome following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul.

CONNIE: And part of the reason you went there instead of to Israel was, of course, the fact that the hostilities in Israel have escalated a great deal since 1999.

LONNIE: Our tour guide this year was David Assael, who lives in Israel, and he shared with me that most of the people who usually work as tour guides in that country have now had to take other jobs, because the tourists are not coming.

CONNIE: You just wish that the hostilities over there--and other places in the world--could be solved easily. But unfortunately it seems like instead of softening, attitudes on both sides are hardening, leading to more and more bloodshed.

LONNIE: Well Connie, the topic of our program today is "The Compassionate Savior," and we'll be focusing on the example of Jesus, who responded to problems with compassion rather than passion. And to introduce that idea, let's first listen to a fascinating interview Ken Wade conducted recently with some men whose experiences have demonstrated the value of compassion in an amazing way.

KEN: I'm just really glad to welcome a couple of my friends from Idaho onto our program today. Jack Robinson and Carl Zumwalt, welcome guys.

CARL: Hi Ken.

JACK: How are you doing?

KEN: Hey, I'm doing great and I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you guys too. There was a time not too long ago though when things were starting to go kind of bad for Carl though, wasn't there?

CARL: Yeah, about four years ago I was basically diagnosed with kidney failure.

KEN: You guys though had been friends for a long time, doing a lot of things together. What kind of things?

JACK: We've gone bicycling together and fishing and camping together.

KEN: A beautiful Idaho for all that fishing and camping, that's great and you sing together too, right?

CARL: Yes.

JACK: Yes we do.

KEN: What's the name of that group?

JACK: It's the Rosewood Group.

KEN: And you do Christian music around the Caldwell Boise area, right?

CARL: Yes.

JACK: Yes we do.

KEN: But Carl, tell me what made you realize that things were going wrong with your kidneys?

CARL: Well, actually I didn't even realize it was my kidney that was causing my problem. I finally went to the doctor because I had insufferable headaches and was starting to suffer limited vision and that's when I found out the reality.

KEN: He basically told you that your kidney is dying, right?

CARL: Yes.

KEN: And you only had one functioning kidney from childhood.

CARL: Correct.

KEN: Running at about twenty percent capacity.

CARL: Um hmm.

KEN: And it was going downhill from there.

CARL: Yes.

KEN: That's serious, serious condition, so what was the prognosis? I mean you're going to have dialysis obviously was one possibility.

CARL: Right.

KEN: What's the other option?

CARL: Well, the other option is transplant.

KEN: Of course.

CARL: And that was where I became very uncomfortable because they wanted me to start pursuing family members and for me to ask for help of any kind was insufferable anyway.

KEN: So they didn't say "Well, we're just going to put you on a list and hope you get a kidney." They said, "Go ask your friends, hey, you got a spare kidney right?"

CARL: In essence, yeah.

KEN: I can't imagine doing that and Carl, I can't imagine your doing that either.

CARL: Well, it's pretty humbling I'll say that.

KEN: Yeah. But Jack, you heard about this.

JACK: Yes, just through conversations with Carl. He made the mention of a living donor.

KEN: Wow.

JACK: And I thought, hey, this is what I want to do.

KEN: Now you told me it took you about five seconds to decide that.

JACK: That is correct.

KEN: So you, Carl, how did you feel when Jack suggested this to you?

CARL: It's one of those rare moments in my life where I had nothing to say.

KEN: I know what you mean. So, Jack, what was the process like? Now you said, "Okay, I'd like to do this." But you don't have any idea at that point whether you really are qualified to do it right?

JACK: That is correct.

KEN: So what did you have to go through to get qualified to be a living donor?

JACK: I had to go through a rigorous physical, took a lot of blood, I had to have my heart x-rayed and also I had to do a treadmill test.

KEN: They want to know that you're going to be in good physical condition to go through this, right?

JACK: Yes, no heart problems or diabetes.

KEN: Uh huh, well you passed this obviously with flying colors.

JACK: Yes I did, for the most part.

CARL: Well, I wouldn't say flying colors. We had a stutter about three months or so before the actual transplant, ah, because some tests raised questions for him.

JACK: Um hmm.

CARL: It wasn't actually a bed of roses.

KEN: No. Okay, so Jack, you went through that and finally it came out that it would be all right so it's been what, about three four months ago now that you actually, both of you went to the hospital together?

JACK: Yes, we had the surgery together on April 17 of this year.

KEN: April 17, so we're looking at just about four months ago now and what was the process? They actually open up Jack first I suppose and take the kidney out?

CARL: Rather simultaneously almost.

KEN: Simultaneously, okay.

CARL: They did start with Jack first though, correct.

KEN: And how are you feeling by now?

CARL: I haven't felt this good in my life.

KEN: Hmmm

CARL: This is a while new lease.

KEN: Wow, you said to me that you'd run on about twenty percent kidney function your whole life. You figured that if you'd had this much energy you'd have probably driven your mother mad or something, right?

CARL: Oh yeah.

KEN: So Carl you're feeling better. How are you doing Jack?

JACK: I'm doing fine. I have occasional pain every once in awhile but for the most part I'm doing quite well.

KEN: Well, when I heard about this I just thought that is a great story. I don't know if I'd have the courage to do that and just really illustrated to me the principle that we find in Jesus of compassionate love and healing love. The idea of being willing to go through a procedure like that to help a friend just really inspired me and I hope that maybe others will be inspired by this story as well. So looking back on it in retrospect Jack, any regrets?

JACK: None whatsoever.

KEN: You and your wife just, you talked to your wife about it obviously beforehand?

JACK: Yes I did.

KEN: And she said, "Go ahead and give away half your kidneys." Right?

JACK: She said to go ahead.

KEN: "You know, he's your friend, go ahead." And that's what we see in Jesus too saying, "Hey, those are my friends down there and they need saving." They need someone to give them a new lease on life and Carl, what's it feel like to have someone give you a new lease on life?

CARL: It's exhilarating and humbling in the same breath.

KEN: Amen. Well thanks gentlemen for sharing with me and God bless you as you go on sharing life together.

CARL: Thank you.

JACK: Thank you for having us.

MUSIC 1: "Healing Love", King's Heralds

CONNIE: Healing love--wow, what a beautiful song, but one you don't hear very often.

LONNIE: It certainly picks up on the theme of that interview. It took a lot of courage, I'm sure, for Jack to consider undergoing that type of surgery, donating one of his organs to a friend. But genuine love generates courage, doesn't it?

CONNIE: It does. The song "Healing Love" is found on a King's Heralds recording. It's part of our extensive Voice of Prophecy music library. Whenever you'd like to know more about any music or other features heard on our broadcast, you can stop by our web page at VOP.COM. You'll find lots of good resources there, including a page that tells about the music we play.

LONNIE: And one of the most important features there at VOP.COM is our online Bible correspondence school, where you can study the Discover Bible Lessons--an excellent set of guidelines to help you discover the important truths found in the Bible.

CONNIE: We always encourage listeners to be Bible students, and the Discover guides give you an introduction that will help you understand the fundamentals and begin studying the Bible for yourself.

LONNIE: You can do the studies right on the Internet by clicking on the Free Bible Guides link on our page, or you can have the first lessons sent right to your home by calling us at 1-800-872-0055 and requesting the Discover Bible Guides.

CONNIE: That number again is 1-800-872-0055, and you can call toll-free anytime, from anywhere in the US and Canada. But right now it's time for Lonnie's message for today, "The Compassionate Savior."
The Compassionate Savior

LONNIE: You know the plot: An evil genius has hatched a plan to take over the world. Or perhaps an alien race is about to enslave us all. Or maybe it's an army of recycled mummies that's on the loose--bent on global conquest.
It's a movie script that gets rewritten and replayed in a new setting every few weeks it seems. Whatever the threat, it's obvious that what the world needs is a savior. Someone with the brains, the courage (and the right weapons) to blow the bad guy to smithereens and make the world a safe place again.

The silver screen shimmers with images of violence, destruction, and mayhem for two hours as the conflict rages to its conclusion, in which the hero/savior finally gains the upper hand and through sheer might and main destroys the most recent threat to the continuation of life on earth.

And the audience breathes a sigh of relief and lines up at the exit while the credits roll.

I suppose the reason books and movies about doomsday are so popular is that somewhere in the back of our minds, we're all aware that destruction could be waiting just around the corner for us. And we want to believe that when that time comes, there will be a knight in shining armor who will come riding to our rescue and save the day.

In one way or another, I suppose, we all sense the need of a savior.
But let me ask you this: What kind of a savior does the world really need? In books and movies, it seems like the hero who saves the day is usually some big, strong man--or perhaps a brilliant, beautiful, athletic woman who can use her martial arts skills and her guns to beat the bad guy to the punch.

Well, maybe that kind of savior works on the silver screen--where everything has to be settled within two hours. But how well does meeting violence with violence serve in the real world? Is it ever possible to get to the very root of evil and destroy it, leaving the world a place of peace?

World War I was supposed to be "the war to end all wars." A war that would make the world safe for democracy. Many hoped that the extreme destruction and violence of the years from 1914 through 1918 would serve as a lesson that would stop nations from ever going to war again. They hoped that the peace imposed by the armistice would last forever.

But World War II, of course, put an end to those hopes. Peace imposed by force never lasts. There's something contradictory about the idea that resorting to violence can ever bring about lasting peace.

So, if superheroes with guns blazing and swords slashing can't really save the world, what kind of savior does the world need?

May I suggest to you that it needs just exactly the kind of savior that it has?
May I suggest that it needs a savior like Jesus Christ?

And may I suggest that if more people would let the spirit of Jesus rule in their hearts, there would be a lot more peace and a lot less violence in our world?
Do you remember the night when crowd came against Jesus in Gethsemane? Do you remember what His disciple, Peter, did?

Remember, Peter was the disciple who had promised that even if all the others would betray Jesus, he never would. He'd stick by Jesus even to the death!

And so, when the soldiers and rabble came to take Jesus captive, what did Peter do?

Did he deny Jesus and run away? No! Not at first. He was determined to make good on his promise. Notice this from John 18:10:

"Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus" (NKJV).

Peter was determined to use the sword to save the Savior of the world.
But notice Jesus' response: "Then Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?' " (John 18:11 NKJ).

Jesus knew that the world could not be saved by a fisherman wielding a sword--a man whose first and only "stab" at being a soldier resulted in only a minor wound for his enemy.

In fact, the world couldn't be saved by even the most highly skilled swordsman. It couldn't even be saved by twelve legions of angels with swords. Matthew's Gospel tells us that Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, then added " 'Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?' " (Matthew 26:53 NKJV).

Jesus didn't call those legions of angels to defend Him, because He knew that the world needed a different kind of Savior. No army of men--or angels--could save the world.

Because armies fight. Armies give blow for blow. Armies perpetuate our earth's legacy of violence.

Jesus didn't want that. He had a better plan.

And over the course of the next 18 hours, He carried out that plan.
A plan that didn't involve arms and battles. Except for arms outstretched in love--arms outstretched and nailed to a cross. And a cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil--between the forces of hatred and love--between the forces of vengeance and forgiveness.

In the words of the prophet, Jesus "was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, NIV).

Did you hear those words, friend? By His wounds, WE are healed. Jesus took the punishment, took the pain, for you and for me--and every blow He endured means one I don't have to endure. The death He suffered, He suffered in my place! He gave up His life so that I might have eternal life.

There on the cross, Jesus played the role of savior of the world in a very different way from how Hollywood would script it.

He faced evil and stared it down, not with guns blazing, but with heart on fire. Blazing with love for those He had come to save. And that is why, when they struck Him, He didn't strike back.. When they spit on Him, He kept His lips firmly sealed. When they drove nails in His hands, He took it lying down.
There on Calvary, all the passion of the evil mastermind of Planet Earth's rebellion against God was poured out on Jesus.

But all that passion was answered with compassion.

Because Jesus came into this world as the compassionate Savior. Matthew 9:36 tells us that when Jesus "saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (NKJV).

Matthew 14:14 says "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (NKJV).
Because that's the kind of Savior this world needs--one whose compassion will absorb all the evil passion, and return only love.

And now, my friend, may I lay a challenge at your feet.

As we listen to the news from day to day, it seems like our world is growing more violent by the minute, with "wars and rumors of wars" coming from all points. Old hatreds and grudges explode daily in bombs and other weapons of aggression.

Is there any way to stop the violence? Can we put an end to it with a bombing mission of our own, or by sending in the Marines?

No. It's never worked in the past, and it won't work today.

The only way to diffuse the passions that lead to violence is with compassion.
That's the mission that the compassionate Savior gives to us as Christians today. To reach out to those who are suffering, and touch them with compassion. To respond with love to those who are angry. To meet passion with compassion, and to heal wounds old a new.
It's not an easy mission.

But it's the mission of the compassionate Savior, and His church. In order to fulfill it, we need to be very close to our Savior. To let His love, His compassion, minister to our hearts day by day. And then let Him minister through us to the world.

Will you be a part of that mission, today?

MUSIC 2: "Let There Be Peace on Earth", King's Heralds