Mercy Triumphs Over Justice

The crown of thorns doesn’t fit him. It just doesn’t belong. How could they not see? He was and is the one TRUE king.

Beaten, bruised and bloody. That was Jesus on that hill at Golgotha. He had been mocked, insulted, and falsely accused.

The human flesh he was in had to be crying out for justice against these people who were tearing him apart. Instead what do we hear from him? “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 23:34

There is a huge lump in my throat as I read those words. Letting them seep down into my heart. Trying to grasp the reality of what Jesus was living through at that moment.

How could he possibly extend mercy to these people? They were casting lots for his very garments as he hung there on that wooden tree. The tree that was meant for the guilty. A means of serving justice.

Yet there he hung full of mercy even still. I honestly struggle to wrap my mind around it.

My own human flesh wants to deal out justice on a daily basis. Most often for those I love that I feel have been hurt, but just as often for myself and offenses that come against my pride.

Didn’t those people on Calvary Hill deserve justice? Don’t the people who hurt me and mine deserve it? My spirit longs to be able to cry out to my Father and say “forgive them” but my flesh is often so weak.

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

Jesus’ life on earth was an example for us of how to live our lives here on earth. He experienced the temptations, struggles and injustices we will face and then some! He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in and help fight back our flesh.

Plain and simple, we can't show true mercy on our own. It's only possible because of the gift of the Holy Spirit in us. 

The reality is that we have all been shown so much mercy by our Savior. Let's share that mercy with others.

Today, let mercy triumph over justice!


Linking up with #livefreeThursday, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesday,