Mandate for Mercy Part 3

Blessed Mercy

Matthew 5:7 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The word “blessed” is such a commonly used word in Christianity. It means several things such as to be happy, prosperous or fortunate. But Scripturally it also means to be filled with strength. It means to be full or made whole or complete. But it has another great meaning in the Hebrew and that is to be adored (barak בָּרַךְ) and surrendered (barakah בְּרָכָה). Thus, we give a blessing to a child when we adore them and surrender them to the Lord in dedication. Or, how about a marriage covenant where the adoring couple are blessed with the favor of the Lord as they surrender to each other in communion with Christ.

So, this simple little verse from Jesus packs so much more in it than we often realize. What Jesus is saying here is that those who show the selfless, sacrificial, redeeming and atoning merciful love of the Lord Jesus Christ to others shall themselves receive that same mercy and be full, whole, complete, adored by the Father receiving His favor in their absolute surrender. It means they value this more than prosperity, fortune, or humanistic, worldly, fleeting happiness.

The presupposition of this statement by Jesus is the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping. And what you do not sow, you cannot reap. Except that throughout Scripture we find God showing mercy to those who did not sow it at all. How do we reconcile this seeming contradiction? It is really simple. Jesus is speaking of those who receive undeserved mercy from God, the author of mercy, to show that same mercy to others. And in doing so, they might receive mercy not only from God but from others as well.

Let’s look at some examples in Scripture. Adam and Eve were the first to receive mercy from the Father. Then there is Noah’s family and of course Israel in the wilderness. Then there is the Apostle Paul who was killing the followers of Jesus until he himself encounters Jesus and experiences the mercy of the Christ. We see Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. But years later when they come before him, thinking him only a prince of Egypt, they plead for mercy and he shows them the same mercy that God had shown him.

Joseph is an example of realizing, that even when others have done you so wrong, you are still no more deserving of God’s mercy than they are of yours. When you realize that God’s mercy is such a blessed mercy, you can then give it to others who may have done nothing to deserve it.

Another example is the disciple Stephen, who while preaching of Jesus, the religious leaders stoned him to death. And with his last breath he asks God to show them mercy.

There is also the Woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders used the letter of the Law to condemn her to death. At the same time, they wanted to exploit her and the situation as an opportunity to entrap Jesus. But He turned the tables on them by fulfilling Messianic prophesy in the book of Jeremiah. When they recognized the potential repercussions, they dropped their stones. When she looked into the eyes of Jesus and heard His voice say, “Where are your accusers?”, she saw none and she was filled with blessed mercy.

Finally, there are the two thieves hanging on crosses on either side of Jesus. One looked at the Christ and his eyes were opened to the mercy of the Father. While the other one looked with eyes like Judas. All he could see through his eyes of bitterness and hatred was his own selfish pride. But the one who affirmed the Christ received His eternal blessed mercy.

How about you? What is your story? Did God show you great blessed mercy when you had shown none to another? Has that mercy transformed your life forever? Are you here today and you need to experience that blessed mercy that makes you whole, gives you strength to keep going and a reason to live tomorrow and the future He has planned for you?

When it seems like you are drowning in this life or your sin, can you hear the voice of Father calling you to the redeeming salvation of His ark of mercy in Jesus Christ? When you have been wronged, are you able, like Joseph, to extend to them the mercy the Lord has shown to you? Or do you consider yourself more deserving than the wrong doer? Like the Apostle Paul, have you been the one who has wronged others yet have struggled to come to repentance that you might receive God’s mercy? Can you have a heart like the disciple Stephen and forgive in the midst of the stoning?

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Are you still living in that old nature of the old Adam, where your rebellious heart keeps you from returning to the favor and merciful love of the Lord? When you think of Christ Jesus, do you see Him as the thief with the eyes of selfish benefit or the thief who sees the blessed mercy of the Father in Heaven? When you hear the Gospel of Christ and the cross, do you hear the voice of the forgiver saying, “Forgive them Father”? When you read the Scriptures, can you see past the legalism and experience the mercy in the words of Messiah saying, “Where are your accusers?”

Oh Brothers and sisters, what a blessed mercy, the mercy of the Lord. No matter which of these I have described may be you, I can assure you of this - “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love, can make you live again.”