Christ Jesus didn't empathize with his fellow beings. He did, however, heal them—restoring broken lives to wholeness. He said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour 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." Matt. 11:28-30.
During his ministry, Jesus healed people of their suffering. He didn't take on the burdens of those around him; instead he freed them of their burdens. Because his consciousness was absolutely centered on God and imbued with spiritual, healing love, he could relieve the sufferer from the painful sense of separation from God's goodness. If he'd been on the same mental level as those who needed his help, he wouldn't have been able to provide the healing understanding they longed for.
If we want to contribute substantially to the healing of sin, disease, and despair, it's essential that we strive to hold ourselves to this same standard of Christly compassion. Empathy, even if well intentioned, can't heal and can even harm through acceptance of the belief that suffering is real.
