Be Jesus This Christmas: Compassion for the Hurting

Seeing the Hurting at Christmas Time

Hey friends,

Christmas is here again—the lights, the music, the bustle of it all. It’s a time of year when we celebrate hope, joy, and love. But can we stop for a minute and think about what Christmas really means? Jesus didn’t come into this world wrapped in tinsel and warm fuzzies. He came into a mess—a broken, hurting world—and He brought healing, hope, and redemption.

As we celebrate, let’s take a moment to look around. Not everyone is feasting, laughing, and opening presents. Some are hungry, lonely, cold, or scared. They’re out there—the homeless, the hurting, the abused—and if we’re not careful, we might miss them. But Jesus never missed them.

Jesus Always Saw the Hurting

One thing about Jesus that inspires me is His ability to really see people. Remember Bartimaeus, the blind man sitting on the roadside (Mark 10:46-52)? Everyone else tried to shut him up, but Jesus stopped. He asked Bartimaeus what he needed and then met that need.

Or think about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The crowd wanted to stone her, but Jesus didn’t look away. He gave her dignity, forgiveness, and a fresh start.

This Christmas, I think we’re called to do the same. To stop, see, and really notice the ones who are hurting—just like Jesus did.

What Would Jesus Do This Christmas?

So what does that look like? What does it mean to be Jesus to someone who’s hurting this time of year? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Offer Compassion, Not Judgment
   Jesus always led with compassion. He didn’t walk past the hungry or sick or rejected—He stepped into their lives. Is there someone you pass every day who could use a kind word or a meal? Proverbs 19:17 reminds us, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”
2. Support Ministries and Shelters
   There are folks out there doing incredible work—feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, helping survivors of abuse. Get involved. Maybe that’s writing a check or volunteering a few hours. As Paul said in Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
3. Be a Listener
   Have you ever felt invisible? Like no one really hears you? Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is simply to listen. James 1:19 calls us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” A listening ear can remind someone that they matter to God.
4. Bring Someone to Your Table
   Who’s spending Christmas alone? Maybe there’s a neighbor or someone from church who needs to feel included. Invite them in. Share a meal, a laugh, a prayer. Hebrews 13:2 encourages us: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
5. Pray for Them, and with Them
   Prayer is powerful. When we pray for the hurting, we invite God’s power into their situation. But don’t just pray for them; if the moment feels right, pray with them. A simple, heartfelt prayer can make someone feel God’s love in a tangible way.

Let Christmas Be About Love in Action

Here’s the thing: Christmas isn’t just about what we do in our homes. It’s about what we do with our hearts. It’s about seeing the unseen and loving the unloved. When we step into the mess and offer even the smallest acts of kindness, we’re reflecting Jesus.

In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Friends, that’s what Christmas is all about—bringing light into the darkness, hope into despair, and love into loneliness.

Let’s go out there and be Jesus to someone this Christmas. Not because we have to, but because He first loved us. And isn’t that the greatest gift of all?

Blessings,
Charlie Wear