Compassion of Christ

So Jesus had spent time teaching the multitude as well as the 12 disciples that he had chosen to lead. We learn the size of the "multitude":

"...and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children." (3 Nephi 17:25)

First off, I just want to point out how many people that is. Now think about their experiences on this day. When Christ came, the first thing he did was invite them all to feel the physical wounds he had received during and through the atonement to bear record of who he really was. 

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come." (3 Nephi 11:15)

Just from a practical perspective (and I credit a book called Man of Holiness by Vaughn J Featherstone for this thought process), think through this. With 2500 people, each one of them coming and feeling the feet, hands, and side of the Savior. Let's say they all lined up and they each spent even just 5 seconds of time doing that. That's just under 3.5 hours of time. That is a lot of time to spend just to stand there and let people have that 5 second experience. I think this shows that before He even tried to teach them, He wanted them to know who he was so they could gain testimony and faith.

In addition, these people had just been through a pretty harrowing experience. The death and destruction that had been over the whole land, followed by days of darkness so thick they couldn't even light a fire. Their lives had just been thrown into chaos.

So anyway, after that, He starts to teach them all and pray for them all, as well as give His disciples direction of how to lead His church when he is gone.

So after the greeting at the beginning, which was half a day, and then meetings where He taught the people and then a leadership meeting, teaching his disciples, he addressed the people again.

"1 ...Behold, my time is at hand.

2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again." (3 Nephi 17:1-3)

He obviously had more to teach them. But after a certain amount of time, people get tired, and brains can only take in so much information. I think this is what He meant when Jesus said "I perceive that ye are weak...". I think He knew that as humans, they were subject to the limitations imposed on them, especially given all that they had been through. He knew they needed to rest and think about what they had heard. You might compare this to the reason current general conferences are not held in one 8-10 hour block.

However, when He said this, He looked around and saw everyone in tears, and He understood that they just wanted Him to stay. His presence would mean so much to anyone, but in their situation, with them surviving what they had survived, and they had a hope of His coming, and now He was here and they didn't want him to go. When He saw this, He had compassion.

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy" (3 Nephi 17:7)

Think about this too. Out of 2500 people, keeping in mind all the earthquakes and destruction and death that they had just experienced, all those that were "afflicted in any manner" probably amounted to a lot of people. Let's say it was even 10% of the people (and I would bet it was more than that because of all the events leading up to this), that's 250 people who individually went up to Jesus and received a blessing and were healed by Him. That must have been a relatively lengthy process, and that was after He said He was going to leave!

As if that wasn't enough, He then invited all the children to gather around him, and He prayed for the whole multitude, and then this: 

"20...And now behold, my joy is full.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them." (3 Nephi 17:20-21)

I imagine that the "little children" must have amounted to at least like a third of the multitude. It seems logical to me, anyway. Let's say it was a third, that's over 800 little children that He blessed and prayed for, each one by one.

Sometimes, ministering and serving others is quick and easy. Other times, to show true compassion, care and concern, it's all about the time you spend. I imagine Christ spent multiple hours after He intended to leave. He was even going to come back the very next day!

I think to truly be like the Savior, we need to have this level of compassion on others around us. We need to be aware of peoples' needs, and we need to be close to the Spirit, so we, like the Savior, can "perceive" when others need our help or even just our presence, to be there for them. What an ideal to work toward! Hopefully I can be that way.