The Christmas Story: Mercy in the Manger

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

I’ve been reading a lot through Luke 1-2, partly for a book I’m writing, but also because it is the advent season.

One thing I’ve been struck by is the big emphasis on “mercy” in Luke 1.

The Lucan infancy narrative mentions over and over God’s “mercy” (Lk 1.50, 54, 58, 72, 78).

At one level, considering Israel’s Scriptures, this mercy is God’s hesed (חֶסֶד), his covenant-love for his people in their darkness and despair, his refusal to walk-away, and his determination to be faithful to them. At another level, across the Gospel of Luke, God hears the cries of those who call out for “mercy,” like a penitent tax-collector who knows he is unworthy (Lk 18.13) or a blind man begging for healing (Lk 18.38).

Christ is God’s mercy to a world that tired, torn, and terrified.

Christ is God’s mercy to people who are full of fear, guilt, and remorse.

Christ is God’s mercy to those feel that they are beyond hope or solace.

Mark proclaims Jesus as the Son of God who appears to Israel and is preached to the Gentiles. Matthew tells us that Jesus is “Immanuel” - God with us and God for us. John declares that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Yet Luke, I think, gives us glad tidings that in Mary’s son God’s mercy has visited us and so our hearts should be full of joy.

In Luke’s Gospel, the ocean of God’s mercy extends to the darkest depths where people thought that even God could not find them and it runs wide to include all the peoples of the earth who did even know the God who is rich in mercy.