1. His zeal forced him to remain behind in Jerusalem as a boy (Lk. 2:49).

2. His zeal led him to become the first circuit preacher (Lk. 4:42-44; 8:1).

3. His zeal caused his friends to think him mad.

"And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself" (Mk. 3:21).

The words "He is beside himself" may be paraphrased, "He has gone crazy over religion."

4. His zeal prompted him to risk his life in purifying the Temple (Jn. 2:15-17).

5. His zeal gave him no rest until he accomplished his mission.

"I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished" (Lk. 12:49, 50).

1. Upon the shepherdless multitudes.

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Mt. 9:36).

2. Upon the sick multitudes.

"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick" (Mt. 14:14).

3. Upon the hungry multitudes.

"Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way" (Mt. 15:32).

4. Upon a widow (Lk. 7:13).

5. Upon a leper (Mk. 1:41).

6. Upon a father (Mk. 9:22, 23).

7. Upon a demoniac (Mk. 5:19).

1. In dealing with our infirmities.

"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust" (Mt. 12:18-21).

2. In washing the feet of the disciples (Jn. 13:4, 5).

3. In his own words.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mt. 11:28-30).

4. In his sufferings and death.

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Isa. 53:7).

1. As seen in his hometown proclamation (Lk. 4:16-30). During this, his first recorded sermon in Nazareth, he boldly pointed out Israel’s historical unbelief which prompted God even back in Old Testament times to bypass, on occasion, the chosen people and bless believing Gentiles instead. A murderous attempt was made on his life at the end of the message.

2. As seen in his two cleansings of the Temple (Jn. 2:13-17; Mt. 21:12-16). The first of these took place at the beginning of his ministry and the second during the final week. Both took great personal courage.

3. As seen in his fearless ministry to a madman (Mk. 5:1-9). No coward would have dared confront (as did our Lord) this raging lunatic who doubtless possessed superhuman and satanic strength.

4. As seen in risking his life to raise Lazarus (Jn. 11:7, 8, 16, 53). He was fully aware (as were his frightened disciples) that a trip to Bethany at this time would simply invite the enraged Jews to attempt to stone him again. (See Jn. 11:8.) But he went anyway.

5. As seen in denouncing the wicked Pharisees (Mt. 23). Never in written history was a group of religious hypocrites so soundly and severely rebuked as were the wicked Pharisees by the Savior here in Matthew 23. Furthermore, he condemned this powerful and perverted group to their face.

6. As seen in his approach to Calvary.

"And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again" (Mk. 10:32-34).

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk. 9:51).

1. his Father (Jn. 14:31; 15:10)

2. his disciples (Jn. 13:34; 17:2, 9, 12; 19:25-27)

3. little children (Mk. 10:13-16)

4. certain close friends (Jn. 11:1-3; 13:23)

5. the city of Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37; Lk. 19:41)