A lesson on Empathy...from the Savior!

This was the lesson we had today in Relief Society, at Church. It really made me think.

First of all there is a difference between empathy and sympathy.

em·pa·thyˈempəTHē/
nounthe ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

sym·pa·thyˈsimpəTHē/
noun
feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Sympathy is to feel sorry for someone who is having a hard time, instead empathy is to feel pain when you see someone else feeling pain. Empathy is what we as disciples of Christ need to develop. And the ultimate example of empathy is our Savior Jesus Christ. The reason why, is because of what he went through in Gethsemane. WHY? Because he felt everything we feel when we have sinned, when we feel sick, sad etc. Not only has he felt everything and can relate with us, and has the ultimate power to know how to help us, but he also has overcome everything. And because He has, we can too.

Consider the situation when you are going through something hard, and a person you know has gone through the same situation and he or she tells you, "I know how you feel, I have been there too", and then they tell you how they overcame and how everything is going to be fine.
It is the same with Jesus, only that he is mighty and powerful and perfect, and he knows how to comfort us, and how to help us overcome in the best way possible.

But how did he develop this empathy? We know that Jesus started to preach only the last three years of his mortal life. What did He do before? We know that He lived in Nazareth for about 20 years (from the time he was brought back from Egypt to when he started His ministry). He studied the gospel and got to know the people that lived in that small area. He knew the people personally, he interacted with them in the temple, or as he worked as a carpenter with his father etc.

Then what, how did he practice empathy? I will share some stories from the life of Jesus Christ.

When Peter saw Him walking on water, he wanted to go to Him. He started walking on water too, but he started having doubts and was drowning. The Savior asked him "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Mathew 14:24-33
Jesus was asked to come and bring back to life Lazarus who was the brother of Martha and Mary, who was dead. When He arrived in their house, He found them weeping. He asked "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? John 11:40.
When Mary went to the tomb only to find it empty, she went to tell the apostles, and after that she stayed at the sepulcher weeping. The resurrected Savior approached her and asked, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" John 20:15

Can you see a pattern? He uses questions to redirect people's feelings to the things that they know to be true and which would help them go through their trials. (There are other ways He shows empathy, for example when He weeps. I am focusing only on one aspect).
In the first story, He asked Peter why did he doubt and why did he show so little faith. The Savior was right there for Him and He had previously told him to "Come".
In the second story, He is reminding those ladies about what he had previously told them.
In the third story, He is asking Mary why is she crying. She knew that Jesus was going to die and be resurrected the third day.

He does the same thing with us today, only not in person. But through prayer, scripture studying, revelation, or other people. He asks us questions to redirect our thoughts to the things we know to be true.

Now, this is not doctrine and is not specifically mentioned in the scriptures, so I will leave it up to you to do your own study upon this matter. Let me know what you find. Also, the topic is broader than what I have talked about, but I think it's good just to give you a starting point. ;-)
If you agree with the explanation above, I hope you will start to practice this lesson in your lives.
Thanks for stopping by!
Warmly,
Juliana