“Lord, have mercy on my son,” said the father, who had fallen on his knees before Jesus.1
“Lord, have mercy…” said the mother. And two blind men. And the lepers. And two more blind men. There are five instances in the gospels where people realized their staggering, insurmountable need—their utter helplessness—and in sheer desperation they cried out to Jesus for mercy.2 Blindness, demon-possession, leprosy. If Jesus couldn’t help, there would be no help. If He should refuse them, they would be completely without hope.3
But upon each and every one of these the Lord of Mercy had mercy. Mercy is defined as “kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them.” 4
I find these five instances instructive for my own intercession.
First as to humility. Note the posture recorded in several instances: on their knees. Observe the tone: meekness, deference, submission.
Second, as to the plea itself. It is just that—a plea. Not a demand, expectation, or presumption.
Third, as to the basis: mercy. Not rights. Not what is due—no, certainly not that! In fact, the mercy supplicant is desperate that justice not be rendered but rather stayed. So destitute is his standing.
Fourth, as to the Benefactor. Jesus is nothing if He is not “kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them.” But He is so much more! He not only desires to relieve them, He does! For He has all power and authority over every occasion of misery and affliction—even those which we have brought on ourselves! What’s more, He is the reason the Father will extend mercy, since He Himself already bore the consequence of every misstep and misdeed which would require mercy. (In other words, the money’s already in the bank! Ask Him to write the check!)
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy.5
Blessings,
Paul
1 Matt 17:14
2 Matt 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30; Luke 17:13 What significance, if any, do you think there might be that Matthew records four of the five instances?
3 Prior to Jesus we have no biblical record of anyone being delivered from demon-possession or healed of blindness. There are only 2 recorded healings from leprosy: Miriam (Numbers 12:10) and Namaan (2 Kings 5:3).
4 Thayer’s Greek Lexicon on the Greek word for mercy, eleos.
5 Michael W. Smith, Lord Have Mercy.