2002.5.12. Rev. Chan Young Jang

Eight Characters of Transformed Christians(5)
Merciful Heart

Matthew 5:1-12

The essence and special characteristics of Christian life is in what one becomes rather than what one does. Therefore, what is more important than end results is inner motivation and attitude. This is why Jesus talked about inside attitude before talking about outside behaviors. In the first heading of the Sermon of the Mountain, Jesus said that Christians are the poor in spirit. And those who mourn about sin seriously, also those who are the meek to look up to God's holiness, and those who are thirsty for righteousness. These characteristics are meant to show who Christian is before God.

Characteristics we will be talking about starting today are in contrast to the preceding four characteristics and they show Christian characteristics in relationship with other people. The first one is merciful heart.

The fundamental meaning of word, 'Mercy' is 'help that recovers and revives those dying from deep wounds of sin or punishment'. In the Old Testament, it is written as Het-Ce-d and used about 150 times. It is an important word that was used to explain primarily God's characteristics or actions. It's usually translated as 'mercy' but sometimes it's translated as 'unchanging love', 'kindness', or 'warm heart'.

In actuality, mercy is not in human heart. In our mind corrupted with sin, there is no mercy that forgives and heals. Mercy is the heart of God. That is abundant and unconditional love of God and His forever forgiving heart.

In the Old Testament, Mercy is displayed with God's characteristics. In other words, it was totally different from forgiveness of mankind that is influenced by emotion and situation. That is why God's mercy goes beyond merely having compassion or forgiving. Sometimes we understand the Old Testament God as God of anger, no forgiveness, and war. However, if you look at the other side of this, his endless mercy He showed to corrupt mankind flows like river. That God's mercy eventually sent his son, Jesus Christ to this earth. This is why you can't understand God's whole love without reading the New Testament through the eyes of God's mercy.

We know that Jesus used the word mercy in a most appropriate way. In Matthew 9:13, "But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice." According to Jesus, mercy is more fundamental than all sacrifices. Also in Matthew 23:23, he said "you give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy, and faithfulness." to show that the core of the Law is mercy.

Another verse that shows the deep meaning of mercy is Luke 10:25. On the way to Jericho, a man met a robber. A priest passed by this man near death. A Levite too passed by. In this case, the two most likely had sympathy or pity on him. But they just passed by. This is no mercy. We should not confuse being sympathetic or compassionate with being merciful.

Now another person passed by. He was a Samaritan who was looked down upon by Jews. But he gave this dying traveler unimaginable help. In chapter 10 and verse 33 and below, "1) he took pity on him, 2) He went to him, 3) and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, 4) he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him, 5) The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him.' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

What this man showed is Mercy. Mercy is not just having compassion or feeling pitiful but also taking specific actions to resolve the situation, being oblivious of one's own interest and work.

In this parable Jesus told us, we see three aspects of Mercy.
First, mercy doesn't discriminate those we should be merciful toward. Mercy is looking at the state of absolute need itself without looking at the bloody person's status. The Samaritan didn't help the robbed person after checking out who he was. To Samaritan, the person's state of imminent death was more important than who the person was.

Second, Mercy doesn't look after him or herself. Had the Samaritan thought of his own interest, he would not have cared for the robbed person. He poured out his time, money, and passion into something that wouldn't do him any good. He even promised to pay more on his way back if the money is not enough. This is mercy. This is showing the heart of Jesus who died on the cross for us. In these days, a person like this would be considered as one of the following-crazy or stupid.

Third, mercy is not feelings but taking actions. Mercy is not only in head and heart but also in hands and feet. Mercy is taking concrete actions. Some people tend to cry a lot and get touched easily. His words are soft and his eyes are warm. And he may not stop talking about the poor and the pained. But that is not mercy. Mercy is to act without words and to practice belief without letting anyone know.

The perfect example of mercy can be found in that God sent his son Jesus Christ to this world to make him die on the cross to forgive our sin. God showed his mercy on those already sentenced to die because of sin. He decided to forgive despite our sins and breaking the Law. God didn't want to leave us in pain, despair, and death and was determined to sacrifice all to save us. This is God's mercy.

For unqualified and worthless people, he poured out God's everlasting value and faithful and unchanging love unconditionally. And gave life and resurrection to us, beings of death and curse. This is mercy.

That's why mercy is a word that contains all of Christian salvation. So those holy ones who was convinced of the salvation of Christ would go out as missionary to live the life of mercy. Some lived with the sick and the poor and founded numerous relief organizations such as orphanage, hospital, and schools.

Mercy is mark of Christians. Even if he declares the greatest truth and speaks like angel, without merciful heart and actions, he is only a liar. If there were greatest tragedy of today's church, it is in losing true mercy toward the world. The biggest tragedy of today's Christians is that they lost mercy toward the lost souls. There's no merciful heart that mourns and loses sleeps over souls that left God.

I went to church for the first time when I was in 4th grade. The reason was simply because of one card which one of the girls in my class handed over to me. On that card, she just said, 'Chan Young, I wish you could go to church.' Along with it was 'Do not fear, for I am with you', a verse from Isaiah chapter 41. Of course I had no idea the phrase, fear not, was words from Isaiah. Important thing was that I wanted to fulfill her wish because she wrote to me that she was going to be with me and I shouldn't be afraid. Oh, how I looked forward to going to church…. Even though I was young, it moved me deeply. And I got to go to church for the first time because of her sincerity. Later she told me that I looked so pitiful to her. At that time, I was doing not bad. I had a comfortable living, was a class representative, got good grades, and was on tall side…. The mercy the girl had made me look like that. After that, the mercy I learned from her made me look at other unbelieving friends with pity and tell them about God's mercy.

Then what's our result when we participate in showing mercy towards people in suffering and living apart from God?

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

That is that they will be shown mercy. Actually we experience this in our lives all the times. If we sow good seeds, good fruits are bound to come out. If we sow mercy, fruit of mercy will be born. In fact, where could we find such gracious words like 'being shown mercy'? Being shown mercy by people is grace. Then, what a big blessing it would be to be shown mercy by God? Probably, no one will enter the kingdom of heaven without being shown mercy by God at the last judgment time.

Here's something that happened. One day, my wife came home and said that police caught her for a driving violation. She didn't even have her driver's license that day. She waited in her car trying to come up with what to say. The police came and asked her various questions, went back to check the records, came back to say 'be careful next time', and just sent her back. At that moment, you can imagine how deeply touched my wife was by the mercy of a policeman whose face she couldn't even remember! Listening to the story, I was even touched. Why? I could understand my wife's situation and it was not just somebody else's story.

I get a kick out of jokes on non-sense Konglish conversations used by newly arrived immigrants from Korea with LA police. Recently, a fresh immigrant who got caught by police wanted to say the following. "I just arrived at America from Korea yesterday. So do not ticket me just this one time. By the way do you know the World Cup will be played in Korea?" This is what he wanted to say but he said in English, "Yesterday Korea, Today America, Tomorrow World Cup, so look at me". Upon hearing this, do you know what the police said? The policeman who knows the Konglish Koreans use said 'No soup' which is a Korean expression meaning 'I can't, no way (originated from not even a single spoonful of soup you'll get from me).' Whenever I hear this story, it feels like God's grace. Why? Because it is my story! If you look at things through the eyes of mercy, I am thankful for everything. Now you can imagine how much grace I experienced studying in an American seminary school. Why? Because I know myself too well! I am from a family with no Christian background and yet became a pastor. This is completely due to God's mercy that was shown to me. Don't you agree that it is all due to the mercy shown by you and God that I am giving you this sermon now and serving this KUMC with you.

Yes, indeed. We are all people who were shown mercy. That's why being merciful toward others is something we ought to or should be willing to do as people shown mercy. Apostle Paul confessed like this. "But God demonstrates his own love (his mercy) for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

One step further, let not the mercy you received stop at your thoughts and heart only but carry it onto your lives by taking action. Listen to this.

"If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tight-fisted toward your poor brother. Rather be open-handed and freely lend him whatever he needs." (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)
"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:15-17)

Lastly, pray for this God's heart--heart to show mercy. What things happen when you pray? We get to meet God when we pray. Prayer, however, lets you see oneself first before seeing God. Therefore prayer humbles ourselves and helps us to wear clothes of mercy. Especially, pray when you are discouraged by someone you cannot forgive and love. Especially, pray when you can't decide about God's ministry, do not know which direction to take, and need courage. God will give you strength for sure. God is looking for people with His mercy even today. He is looking for people to show God's mercy, true mercy toward the world that lost the God's heart, our neighbors, and a single soul.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Dear congregation, do you really want to receive mercy the Lord gives us? Show mercy where your hands can reach. Rather, are you already experiencing God's mercy everyday? Are you living in that grace? Please show that mercy to those who are yet to know the God's heart, to people and nations.

In a different translation, it is written:
"Happy are those who show mercy. They will be wearing mercy." It was the words of Jesus.