The founders of the world’s greatest religions, whether you believe they’re divine, prophets, or just plain human, indisputably gave humanity invaluable guidance in the art of kindness.
Sometimes simple teaching is an act of kindness unto itself. Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, and a part of the Trinity in the Christian tradition, was just such a teacher.
Jesus’ life and actions were a continuous teaching experience for His disciples, as well as those who sought his wisdom.
One of his most notable acts of kindness involved the healing of a leper in Luke 5:12-16. Whether or not you believe the miraculous actually occurred, the mere fact that Jesus touched a man “full of leprosy” in his time period was an incredible act of kindness.
Leprosy was once not only a disease that affected the body, but the social life as well. Lepers were outcasts, doomed to a life without the comfort of human touch.
But Jesus touched this man, and, according to scripture, healed him.
And this was not the only example of Jesus reaching out to those on the margins of society—He treated sinners, minorities, and women as equally valuable and worthy of love, and His admonition to “turn the other cheek,” when we are wronged continues to be taught and considered today.
Jesus’ focus on a kind way of life absolutely changed the world, founding a religion focused on peace and love that a large percentage of the entire world would go on to adopt.
While beliefs, doctrines and religions may differ, the lifestyle of kindness Jesus taught remains an indispensable panacea for the many maladies of our world.