12 Days of Christmas: Day #9 Jesus is MERCIFUL

God’s mercy, given us through His son Jesus Christ, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Without His mercy, we would still be living under the law–full of fear and without hope. But, because of His mercy, we have a saving grace and a hope for tomorrow that affects all of our todays. And that mercy and grace is seen in the person of Jesus.

Mercy is defined as withholding deserved punishment for an offense. It is demonstrated in compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone by another who has the power to punish.

Every one of us has been offered Jesus’ mercy, as every one of us is a sinner for whom punishment is the sentence. Romans 3:23 says every one of us has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We see God’s grace through Jesus in the gift of eternal life we receive and His mercy in the death we evade.

One of the most comprehensive illustrations of Jesus’ mercy can be seen in Titus 3:3-6:

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ.

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us. He didn’t do this because of any work we had done. We couldn’t earn our salvation. Jesus saved us purely according to His own mercy–removing our punishment and setting us free. 

We see this again in Ephesians 2:4 where it states, “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 in Christ.” His mercy changes us. His mercy makes us alive again. 

Jesus’ mercy is the gospel message. His mercy is the “good news of great joy that would be for all people” declared at His birth (Luke 2:10). His mercy is the reason for Christmas. 

How does Jesus’ mercy affect you today? 

How does recognizing His mercy bring you hope and joy? 

How can you share that mercy with others, and point them to Jesus Himself? 

Take a moment to pray. Thank God for His rich mercy that saved you (whether you have accepted that gift yet or not). Thank Him for His love that chose to extend such mercy and grace to each of us through His death. Confess any ways you have denied His mercy or even flat out refused to accept it. Ask for forgiveness for your sins, and know that He is merciful to answer. Ask for His help to walk in newness of life, offering mercy to others in response to the great mercy you have been shown. Ask Him to help you reveal glimpses of His mercy to others who need to know and accept His mercy for themselves.