Good thoughts going on here. Of course, Jesus said in Matthew 20: "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

You're right on a very important level. We often forget the compassionate way in which Christ operated. Too often, our focus is on his death (which it should be) and we forget how he treated people. I don't think many people even examine it in too much detail.

Personally, as a former Southern Baptist minister, I know that many churches spent a lot of time on Christ's death. Yes, it is quite important as it shows his sacrifice, our redemption, his love, etc.

But have we been screaming his death out so loud that we have muted the need for things in Christian culture like forgiveness, humility, compassion, empathy, community, and authentic love? I think we have lost the meaning of community somewhere. And I think your post here is a good way for us to examine ways Christ deal with a lot of people and the love in which he did it.

May we follow his example so that we and our communities of faith might be a place of ministry, love and refuge for all.