How sweet is the mercy of God!

When you think of mercy, what comes to your mind? Is it something that you deserve or that you can earn by doing something good for another? If you have driven too fast in a school zone and you see red and blue lights in your rear view mirror, you hope they will have mercy on you and instead of making you pay the penalty, they give a warning right? By speeding we have broken the law and are guilty. Thus the only way to not have to pay for that guilt is to be given mercy.

For some, they think they are entitled to get away with whatever because they think they are above the law. You see famous actors insult police and expect that their name gets them off the hook. You see politicians trying to pull in favours or buying off or using intimidation in order to get charges dropped.

But what does one do when we sin against God the Law Maker? The One who demands that only perfect obedience to His law is excepted? How many of us have already broken God’s law numerous times today? From the beginning, God told Adam that disobedience to his law brings death as just punishment.

Adam and Eve disobeyed and death was in fact the righteous judgement. But…but God was merciful. Instead of snuffing their lives out, an animal was sacrificed on their behalf. A substitute. A promise was given by God that in the future, a Son would be given who would be the perfect sacrifice in the place of sinners. One who would perfectly pay their debt. The Perfect Judge would forgive the debt by his own Son paying for it.

God’s covenant with Abraham comes up repeatedly in Luke’s narrative because of its significance to God’s plan of salvation of sinners. Abraham was a sinner, an idol worshipper. God had mercy upon him and chose to make him a great nation. He forgave Abraham’s sin past, present and future by giving him faith to believe in God as his Saviour.

From a couple weeks ago, Zechariah did not believe that God could do what he promised. God was merciful to him and instead of terminating his life, he gave a sign of silence until the promise of a child was fulfilled.

This is where we are going to pick it up this morning. This passage is about the mercy of the Almighty God. Mercy is one of the characteristics of God. Mercy is having compassion and love for those who do not deserve it on their own right. Mercy cannot be purchased or worked for. It is a gift from the very nature of a good God. You and I want an omnipotent God to also be merciful, and he is.

For this morning, let us look at the mercy of God with fresh eyes and a softened heart to worship our God for his kindness to us.

Zechariah’s response to mercy is praise (57-66).

The time has come for the promise that Elizabeth would bear a son in her old age. (58) the people heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to Elizabeth and so they rejoiced with her just like Gabriel had said (14). The baby was to be circumcised on the 8th day. This displayed the sign of remembrance of God’s covenant with Abraham. It was tradition that the name was given on this day. Everyone assumed it would be something like Zechariah Jr. but Elizabeth said his name is John.

Confused and not believing this to be true they made signs to Zechariah because he was deaf to inquire what his name should be. He asks for a tablet, likely wood with wax covering it and he writes “His name is John.”

Immediately his mouth is open and he praises God. This all happened just like Gabriel stated would happen.

All these wonderful things happening was too much for the neighbours and great fear swept through the land at “What then will this child be?” (66). Zechariah and Elizabeth knew. John was the one who would be great before the Lord, the long awaited Messiah King.

As we saw at the beginning of this chapter, Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and blameless. Were they sinless? Not a chance. Did they deserve a child for all their years of praying and that now they had earned enough merits to finally pay God for a child to occupy the womb of a barren woman? No! It was mercy. It is only by God’s mercy that we have air to breathe, food to eat, and children to enjoy.

Is this how you understand mercy? Or, do you think that God owes you mercy? Having a clear understanding of mercy affects our response to God. Look at how Zechariah responds to the mercy of God in (64). He blesses God as soon as his tongue was loosed. He had learned over the long months since Gabriel spoke to him in the temple that with God all things are possible. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and praises God.

Zechariah responds to God in the proper way this time. He has learned over the long months since Gabriel spoke to him in the temple that with God all things are possible. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and praises God.

God shows mercy by keeping his promise (67-75).

Months of inward reflection, repentance and gratitude have led to a volcanic eruption for Zechariah. What explodes out is worship and thanksgiving. God’s silence of 400 plus years has ended with a merciful visit to a simple priest and his barren wife.

God is going to save his people from their condemnation. Their debt of past, present and future sin is going to be permanently removed and cast into the deepest ocean.

Zechariah prophesies that God has (past tense) raised up a horn of salvation, a metaphor for the tip of the spear, antlers that crush the opponent. It is God Almighty in the flesh that will now fight for us against our enemy of sin and death. Zechariah again points to Jesus as a descendant of David who is the true Messiah King of Israel.

The prophets have long foretold this especially in Isaiah as the one who would bear our sorrow and grief, smitten by God in our place, wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities or sins. Upon the shoulders of Jesus would the chastisement bring us peace with the living God. By his stripes we are healed.

Everyone born of Adam has gone astray but for all who believe in Jesus, God has laid our iniquity upon his only begotten Son. In exchange we receive the perfect righteousness of Christ.

Is God merciful? Can you see the tender mercy of the Almighty God to put away your sin forever? (PAUSE) Let us think very carefully in reverent awe of the God who created us.

While Zechariah may have been thinking about Israel’s political enemies in (71), it is evident in (77) that the true enemy of humanity is sin. Forgiveness is the most blessed gift anyone can receive.

Zechariah blesses God that he has shown mercy in remembering his holy covenant with Abraham. God made a covenant that through Abraham’s descendants the nations would be blessed. Now here approximately 2,000 years later the fulfillment of that covenant has come. God’s very character is truth. He cannot lie. What he says he will do, he fulfills. The seed of Abraham was often very wicked, even more than pagans! If we made this covenant with Israel, we would surely go back on our word, but not God. His oath he swore to Abraham is binding and would not be revoked no matter what. Is this not merciful?

Their son John (Jehovah is gracious) is going to be the prophet of the Most High (76). He is going to prepare

By the Christ coming at this time, Zechariah sees Jesus removing all his enemies and Israel would serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness. When God’s people serve in how they are supposed to live as holy people, the world is truly blessed. Love, truth, generosity, kindness and compassion make the world a better place for all people whether they are Christian or not. Is this not a mercy of God that by keeping his promise in Jesus, the world is blessed?

Salvation from sin’s judgement is mercy (76-80).

When we look at the narrative of these passages year after year, they can lose their impact on us. With so much emphasis on gifts, entertainment, hustle and stress of the season, we can risk losing sight of what a joy we get to celebrate each year. Consider the magnitude of what our lives would be like if God was not gracious and merciful to us. We would still be in our sin and rightly deserving eternal hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. But…God is merciful!

While John (Jehovah is gracious) is going to be the prophet of the Most High (76). Zechariah is really exalting God for the Saviour who is the Son of the Most High. John is going to prepare the way for sinners to be reconciled to God. Turning the script of the curse in Adam to grace in the 2nd Adam Jesus Christ.

John is going to proclaim that the self righteous Jews who were steeped in hypocritical law needed to repent of sin and trust in the One whose sandal he was unworthy of tying. The Jews believed in a political King who would remove Rome from occupying their land. But this King has a higher kingdom. A spiritual one that was eternal.

John was going to proclaim a gospel so that knowledge of sinful rebellion is satisfied only in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. This was because of the tender mercy of our God (78).

Zechariah then draws on when he claims that Jesus is the light of the sunrise that shines upon the darkness of our dead and sinful souls. “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”

For the sinner who is blinded by his sin, thinking he is fine and is a good person cannot see that the flames of hell are lapping at his feet! The fiery grave is ready to swallow up the lost soul in eternal damnation. But by God’s mercy, the light is turned on in the darkness of his soul revealing the precarious situation he is in. The right response is to cry out “Be merciful to me a sinner! What must I do to be saved from this righteous judgement?”

One path is given. Jesus Christ.

[22] “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

[2] But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (ESV)

[22] “Turn to me and be saved,

Faith in Jesus alone brings immediate forgiveness of sins. You are plucked from the fiery judgement. The weight of sin is removed and like a calf you leap with joy. I am free!!!

all the ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other. (ESV)

Is God merciful to us sinners? He is!! He turns sorrow into gladness. Jesus is glorious Light to all who sit in the darkness and guides us to everlasting peace with God as his children.

[2] But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (ESV)

Is God merciful? His very nature is mercy, but he is also just. Mercy is not owed or earned, for then it would not be mercy but wages for good works. It is kindness, compassion and deep love that he has mercy on us sinners.

[2] But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (ESV)

Is God merciful? His very nature is mercy, but he is also just. Mercy is not owed or earned, for then it would not be mercy but wages for good works. It is kindness, compassion and deep love that he has mercy on us sinners.

When you look for God’s mercies, they start to show up everywhere. What mercies have you been blessed this week by? Home with heat? Friendship? Better grade on crops? Missing that deer on the road? Food to taste? Ears to hear? Marriage? Singleness? When I was with John and Dian Friday…

Let the sweetness of God’s mercy for you a sinner bring you to joyous gratitude and praise like Zechariah.

Brother and sisters, the beauty of regularly partaking of the Lord’s supper is the remembrance that God is merciful to us. Maybe grief and sorrow have overwhelmed you, God is merciful in that he comforts the broken hearted. Maybe you are a new believer who has seen how God redeemed you, yet sin has tripped you up. The bread and juice symbolize for us he has forgiven you by his precious blood…mercy that he does not take back from you. Maybe as a mature believer, you said or did something sinful this week and just need to again remember that no matter how many times you sin, his mercy is more. Eat the bread, drink the juice to fill your soul with the goodness of God. Be nourished so that your cup is overflowing with praise for God’s mercies that are new every morning.

Let us pause for reflection.

As we prepare our hearts for the Lord’s Supper, let us take time to reflect and thank God for his mercy. Has the Spirit stirred in your heart this morning that you have desired God’s mercy but have not been merciful to others? Will you repent and ask the Lord to give you grace to behold his wondrous mercies and live in light of his glorious grace? To serve the living God in holiness and righteousness? Let us pause for reflection.

Fence off table. Parents this would be a good time to explain to your children that this is not a treat but that this is a holy remembrance of the work of Jesus on our behalf.

[24] (Jesus) said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

[24] (Jesus) said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (ESV)

[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (ESV)