Have Mercy!

Traditionally when we try to define mercy we say it means - Not getting what you deserve. The problem is we are getting to decide what others deserve. So there has to be something more to mercy . Jesus tells us in Matt 25 that "whatever you do for the least of these" (others) we do for him. If that is the case then when we look at others we need to see Jesus.

So when Jesus says "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matt 9:13) what does this mercy mean? How does Jesus himself teach us to show mercy?

The first way is to be merciful to the hurting. In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus points out that if you show compassion for others you can be showing mercy. This kind of mercy isn't just a feeling of guilt or feeling sorry for that person, it is a feeling that moves you to take action. If you look at a hurting person and see Jesus you are going to act differently than if you are looking through your own eyes and setting your own "deserving scale."

The second way is to be merciful to the sinful. As in the story of the adulterous woman brought to Jesus, he teaches us to be merciful. If anyone had the right to condemn her it would have been the "perfect" man, Jesus. He said, "the one who is without sin cast the first stone." As the accusers walked away Jesus could have picked up a stone and killed this woman, but he showed mercy. Jesus is teaching us that mercy moves us to help, not condemn. If you look at a sinful person and see Jesus you will show mercy not condemnation. If you are looking through your own eyes you usually set your own "deserving scale."

The third way is to be merciful to the enemy. Jesus said "Love your enemy, do good to them." (Luke 6) We live in a culture that lives the opposite of this statement. We cheer for wrath and punishment. We would much rather see someone who has hurt us or offended us to pay for the wrong they've done rather than shown mercy. Some may be asking the question, "So are you saying that there shouldn't be consequences for their actions?" No. You’re asking the wrong question! What about asking, "If I see Jesus in this person how would I treat Him?" Maybe we would respond differently. Instead of looking through our own eyes and determining what others deserve we show the mercy of Jesus to them.

If mercy is not NOT getting what you deserve then what is it? Mercy is something you don't have to do but you choose to do it because you see Jesus as that person. What if followers of Christ would focus on this kind of mercy. Would this world be different? Whether or not it would, when we see Jesus he would tell us "come, take your inheritance" (Matt 25:34). When we see Jesus in others we can't help but show mercy. Just as when we put on Christ, God can't help but to see Jesus in us - the hurting and sinful!

Doug