5.4. JESUS DECLARED THE FATHER AS MERCIFUL

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied saying,

Luke 1:78 "Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us..."

The coming of our Lord Jesus is attributed to the tender mercy of our God. The Father's tender mercy may be defined as an outward manifestation of His compassion in action to relieve the misery of the sinful and suffering in their distress. It is to the special mercy of God that Zacharias is referring, that provides in Christ's first coming the light of salvation and deliverance for all who believe. In His tender mercy He has provided in Christ, light for those who "sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace". (Luke 1:79 ).

We owe the plan of our salvation to His tender mercy. The word "mercy" gives us much on which to meditate. As to the mercy of God,

• It is great:

1 Kings 3:6 "And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in truth..."

• It is full and abundant:

Psalm 86:5 "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You."

• It is eternal:

Psalm 103:17 - "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him..."

In Christ we have the supreme demonstration of the tender mercy of God. His compassion expressed in mercy towards the multitudes, provided a miraculous feast (Mark 8:2-9 ). He had mercy on them because having been with Him for three days, and being hungry, they could have fainted for lack of nourishment on their long walk home.

His many miracles of healing were demonstrations of divine mercy. Blind Bartimaeus cried for mercy. He got mercy; he was given his sight (Luke 18:35-43 ). Because of His merciful Calvary love, redemption is available to whoever believes. (Ephesians 2:4; Titus 3:5 ).

Those who know the Father and practice His mercy are called "blessed" by the Lord Jesus. (Matthew 5:7 ). They are sure of obtaining mercy. It is only those who have been born again and are partakers of the heavenly nature, who are able to move in active, God-like mercy. It is something that only the renewed nature can "put on". (Colossians 3:12 ). Some people have a naturally kind disposition, but God-like mercy in the life is produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is ... full of mercy."

So great is this mercy that it is manifested towards enemies, according to the insistence of Jesus.

Matthew 5:44-45 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

That kind of loving mercy is supernatural, not natural. Knowledge of the Father brings awesome responsibility.

Luke 6:36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

Notice how Jesus says loving enemies, doing good and lending without expecting anything in return, is rewarded by being known as "sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil" (Luke 6:35 ).

Those to whom the Father has been declared and made known in merciful lovingkindness, become motivated to active mercy. Their minds devise plans of mercy, their tongues plead the cause of mercy, their hands distribute the objects of mercy. They are already being God's usable people.