not once did he hint at fatalism

This quote from Philip Yancey poignantly synthesizes accounts of Christ's empathy, such as those we've been looking at in the gospel of Mark.  What a far cry from the amivalence and platitudes too often directed at others, directly or indirectly ...

Jesus never gave a poor or suffering person a speech about "accepting your lot in life," or "taking the medicine that God has given you."  He seemed unusually sensitive to the groans of suffering people, and set about remedying them.  And he used his supernatural powers to heal, never to punish. …

Jesus himself spent his life on earth fighting disease and despair.  Not once did he hint at fatalism or a resigned acceptance of suffering.

(from Where is God When it Hurts? (Zondervan '90; cover image from '02 edition), pg. 82 & 98, a modern day classic exploration of the problem of pain)