Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
-Romans 12:15
I believe that Jesus was an empath. Why do I come to that conclusion? Mostly from reading the gospel accounts in the Bible. That in itself makes it rather obvious, in my humble opinion. Out of curiosity, I asked the Internet for a definition of an empath, knowing of course this is not the best way to secure accurate information. You are welcome, therefore, to take the results with as many salt grains as necessary. I did find the results to be interesting. Among other things my search listed the following characteristics of an empath:
- You pick up on hidden intentions, unstated tensions, or dishonesty very quickly.
- You require regular quiet, alone time to decompress and clear out emotional clutter.
- You are drawn to caregiving, supporting underdogs, or listening deeply to others.
Do you see what I mean? Whether or not we call Jesus an empath, there is no doubt he had a deep capacity to know and feel what others were thinking and feeling. Our text from Romans 12 encourages us to be the same way. “Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Weep with those who are weeping.” It is an invitation to emotionally join with others wherever life has them at the moment. Why? Because empathy has a powerful potential to minister to another person’s spirit.
People in the field of psychology and other similar disciplines seem to be in some disagreement as to whether empathy can be learned. Clearly some people have an innate tendency toward empathetic traits. Regardless, many believe that empathy can be cognitively learned as well. I don’t have an opinion on whether or not that is true. What I do believe is that empathy can be nurtured within the follower of Christ. I say that with confidence because the particular work of the Holy Spirit within the believer is a work of making us like Jesus. This is what the apostle Paul has in mind in scriptures like Romans 8:29, where he states that we are “predestined to become conformed to the image of (God’s) Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” And if Jesus demonstrated empathetic characteristics, surely the Holy Spirit intends to develop these same characteristics within us.
Another point that seems obvious is that this exhortation is not restricted to times of sorrow and pain. We are also encouraged to “rejoice with those who rejoice,” to join with them in their celebration and to let the joy of their spirit resonate with ours. The first recorded miracle of Jesus is a great picture of this. The miracle was not the healing of a lame person or casting out a demon, things that would be associated with suffering. Rather, the miracle was performed at a wedding feast, where Jesus took water and made between 120 and 180 gallons of wine (see John 2). Talk about festive! It is not just misery that loves company; gladness delights in it as well.
This leads me to one more thought. Whether rejoicing or weeping, pleasure or pain, the exhortation offered in Romans 12:15 revolves around the word “with.” Joyful or sorrowful, what we share is relationally grounded. This is especially the case when it comes to the church, what the Bible calls the Body of Christ. “So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). If we visit the 12th chapter of another of Paul’s letters, we find a complimentary thought. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). While God certainly wants our empathy to be shared with all people, it is evident that for the church, empathy starts at home.
If you find yourself running a bit low on empathy, pause and consider the manner in which Jesus has shown such care toward you. We give out of what we have received, and my guess is you have received abundantly.
See you along the Winding Path.
