“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

Through Peter’s time of following Jesus, he experienced mercy in many different ways. Yet, none more powerful, than when Jesus showed him mercy after the resurrection because of Peter’s failing when he denied Jesus. In mercy, Jesus restored Peter again by giving him the assignments of feeding His lambs, taking care of His sheep, and feeding His sheep. In receiving God’s mercy, Peter would open his first book by writing, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” (1 Peter 1:3-4) Peter would remind us all that our life and salvation in Jesus Christ comes because of mercy.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to us about the abundant life we have in Him as He calls us blessed. We who have received mercy will be blessed as we are merciful. Just as God showed mercy to us as we were enemies of His kingdom while we were lost in sin. Jesus would challenge us to be merciful. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45) Jesus would also tell us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

The blessing we receive through our showing mercy is for us to receive mercy. In Jesus’ mercy, we begin to learn His ways and are transformed in order for us to know and do His will. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) Those who learn the ways and will of God grow in their relationship with Him and are drawn closer to Him. Concerning this relationship, Jesus said to His Disciples, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

We can now walk in this life as a friend of God doing His will following His way. This brings us back to Peter. While we seek to follow, there are also times where we fail and are in need of mercy. In these times, our friend is also the One to whom we can go who understands temptations and has overcome them. He is ready to give us mercy and help us in our failures. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16) This is all in the abundance of God through His blessing. Therefore, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block