We love to see justice meted out. For the fictional criminal to wind up in prison. For the cartoon character who’s plotting to push someone in a puddle, to fall into a lake. For the cinematic arch-villain to be utterly defeated.

But Jesus shows us that justice isn’t what we really need. It’s mercy.  

Choosing Mercy

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7) is the fifth point of Jesus’ first sermon in what we call the Sermon on the Mount.

 Mercy isn’t simply feeling sorry for someone and empathizing with their plight. It’s knowing we can make a person who’s wronged us suffer for their wrong—and choose instead to set them free.

Mercy can only come from one source: God. Mercy is part of God’s very nature. Jesus showed us that when He told the woman caught in the act of adultery, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer” (John 8:11 New American Standard Bible). Jesus, as God in the flesh, was the only one who had the right to judge the woman. Yet He chose to show her mercy, reflecting the heart of God.

More Precious Than Silver

In the opening scene of the 1998  film Les Misérables, Jean Valjean, a paroled convict, steals a bishop’s expensive silver and attacks the bishop to make his escape. When the authorities capture Valjean with the silver, the bishop claims he gave it to Valjean. Shocked, the police remove the handcuffs and leave. The bishop uncovers the thief’s hood so he can look him fully in his face.

“I’ve ransomed you from fear and hatred,” he says. “And now I give you back to God.”

What a perfect reflection of Jesus’ mercy toward us.

Moments before He died, Jesus forgave those who mocked Him, spit on Him and nailed Him to a cross. He even asked God to forgive them, adding, “for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus willingly chose to take the punishment for our disobedience. When we decide to accept Jesus’ gift of mercy, as Valjean accepted the bishop’s favour, Jesus changes us to live new lives.

How can we possibly thank Him for that kind of love? He tells us how in this sermon. By showing mercy to others.

 Jesus showed us God’s mercy by ransoming us and giving us back to God.  JEANETTE LEVELLIE

As the Deer

People get hurt. And then they hurt us.

If we let them, those hurts will keep us handcuffed to fear and hatred. When we decide instead to see Jesus’ favour, we realize that He didn’t give us justice; He gave us mercy. He freed us from the sins of our past. We now have His power to show mercy to those who have wronged us.

Easter is a day of celebration when we give praise that a man named Jesus, who was God in the flesh, died in our place. Jesus showed us God’s mercy by ransoming us and giving us back to God. Through His death and Resurrection, Jesus gives us the chance to live a new life.

This is the miracle of Easter. A miracle of mercy.

This is the fifth article in our series  on the Beatitudes, key teachings from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), Jesus’ first sermon during His earthly ministry. Read the fourth article at  https://salvationist.ca/articles/blessed-are-those-who-hunger-and-thirst/ .

Photo: paul/stock.Adobe.com

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