Jesus the Merciful ∙∙
He needed to be made in every respect like us so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. – Hebrews 2:17
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 We have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us hold firmly to what we believe.
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive his mercy and find grace to help us when we need it most.
Maximus the Merciful
In the 2000 film “Gladiator,” Russell Crowe portrays Maximus Decimus Meridius, a high-ranking Roman general who served under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After being betrayed by the emperor’s son, Commodus, Maximus narrowly escapes an assassination attempt and is presumed dead. Stripped of his rank and identity, he adopts the name “Spaniard” and, through a series of events, becomes a gladiator in Rome.
Commodus, eager to see Maximus defeated, orchestrates a fight between him and an undefeated gladiator named Tigris of Gaul, expecting Maximus to perish. However, against all odds, Maximus triumphs. In a surprising act of mercy, he chooses to spare Tigris’ life, earning the admiration of the crowd, who then acclaim him as “Maximus the Merciful.”
What Is Mercy?
Mercy is a profound concept. As Adrian Rogers explains, “Mercy is not getting what we deserve, grace is getting what we do not deserve.”
Maximus generously chose to spare Tigris as an act of mercy, opting not to impose punishment or harm when he had the power to do so. This mercy mirrors the defining qualities of the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Merciful High Priest: Jesus Christ
The Father, in His infinite love, has provided every child of the King with a merciful and faithful High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus took on human form, experiencing the full range of human struggles, emotions, and temptations.
Hebrews 4:15, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do.”
Jesus’ understanding goes beyond mere knowledge. He is empathetic, sharing in our struggles and commiserating with our pain. His mercy is not distant or detached; it is personal and compassionate.
An Invitation to Come Boldly
Through His mercy, we can approach the Father with our struggles at any time and from anywhere. Since He faced similar temptations, the Lord Jesus Christ is prepared to help us whenever we encounter temptation.
Hebrews 4:16, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
The Greek verb eleos, translated as “let us come,” is in the present tense, meaning “let us keep on coming.” This emphasizes that we can approach Him repeatedly, without fear of being turned away. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Merciful, never gets tired of helping the children of the King. He loves to do it.
The Greek word translated as “boldly” or “confidence” is parresia, which “conveys an attitude of openness, freedom, and a lack of fear.”
Because of Jesus’ completed work of redemption, the issue of sin has been fully dealt with and atoned for. There is no reason to hesitate or fear. Instead, we are encouraged to approach Him fearlessly and confidently. We can come to Him bravely in any situation, especially when we need Him the most. We can come again and again, knowing that His mercy and grace are inexhaustible.
How great is that?
Why Do We Hesitate?
Despite this invitation, many of us are reluctant to approach Him boldly. Why? The apostle John provides the answer, 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.”
When we truly experience the perfect love of Christ, fear is removed from the equation. We no longer fear rejection, punishment, or inadequacy. Instead, we are drawn to Him by His love and mercy.
An Invitation Signed by Jesus Christ, the Merciful
Every child of the King holds an open invitation to come boldly to the throne of grace. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Merciful, signs this invitation.
How great is that?
REFLECT & PRAY
The mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful, are infinite. They can never be exhausted or used up.
Father, thank You for providing the Perfect High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Merciful. Encourage me to come boldly and confidently into Your presence, knowing that Your mercy and grace are always available. Help me to trust in Your perfect love and to live without fear, relying on Your infinite compassion.
INSIGHT
God: The Source of All Comfort and Mercy
2 Corinthians 1:3 reminds us, “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
When we experience God’s mercy and help in our times of greatest need, it is not meant to stop with us. What does the Father expect of us? The Father wants us to pay it forward, extending that same kindness and mercy to others. Mercy is not a stagnant gift; it is a flowing, living force.
Mercy begins with God, the source of all mercies, and flows through us to those in need. As we show mercy to others, we are blessed in return. This principle is beautifully captured in a familiar rabbinic saying: “The greater mercy that we give to others, the more we receive” (UBS).
The Blessing of Mercy
In the Beatitudes, Jesus makes a profound promise in Matthew 5:7, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
This verse highlights the intended cycle: as we extend mercy to others, we open ourselves to receive even more mercy from God. Mercy is not just a one-time act; it is a lifestyle that reflects the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Merciful.
Mercy and Forgiveness: A Reflection of God’s Heart
The call to be merciful is closely tied to forgiveness, as seen in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:12, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”
Mercy is rooted in God’s acceptance of the unworthy, the guilty, and those in the wrong. As Larry Chouinard explains, “The merciful are those who reflect God’s acceptance of the unworthy, the guilty, and the ones in the wrong, based upon the premise that God’s forgiving and restoring acceptance has been manifested in the message and person of Jesus.”
Hebrew and Greek Words for Mercy
The Greek word translated as merciful in Matthew 5:7 is eleemon, which reflects the Hebrew word hesed. Hesed is one of the most beautiful and profound words in the Old Testament, describing the character of the Father.
Hesed is often translated as “kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, faithfulness, reliability, and loyal love.” It goes beyond mere sympathy or pity. Hesed is “a deep, empathetic commitment to understanding and helping others.”
Hesed: A Commitment of Mind and Will
The UBS Handbook defines mercy as “Having a feeling of sorrow over someone’s bad situation and trying to do something about it. Merciful people can be said to be ‘kind’ or ‘forgiving,’ or to be ‘people who take pity on others,’ ‘people who show mercy to others.’”
However, William Barclay explains, “Hesed enables us to deeply empathize with others, allowing us to perceive the world through their eyes, understand their thoughts, and resonate with their emotions. This goes far beyond a fleeting surge of sympathy. It requires a conscious commitment of both the mind and the will.”
Mercy, therefore, is not just a feeling; it is an action. It is a deliberate choice to step into someone else’s situation and do something about it.
Mercy as a Way of Life
Mercy is not just an occasional act or a fleeting impulse. It is a way of life for those who follow Christ. As Leon Morris puts it, “Being merciful refers to those whose bent is to show mercy.”
For the merciful, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion are not rare occurrences; they are the natural outflow of a heart transformed by God’s mercy.
When intelligence (understanding the situation) and compassion (kindness and action) meet and kiss, the result is mercy.
The Promise of Mercy
The Lord Jesus Christ makes a simple yet profound promise in Matthew 5:7, “Be merciful. You will be shown mercy.”
This is not merely a command; it is an invitation to experience the blessings of God’s mercy in your own life. The more mercy you extend to others, the more you will receive.
Be merciful and you will be shown mercy. What a tremendous promise!
What do you have to lose? Nothing!
Mercy costs us little but gives us much. It reflects the heart of God, blesses others, and brings us closer to Him. So why hesitate?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯10-10-3
© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 