Jesus Brings Us Mercy This Easter

Easter is the time of year that I look for new beginnings. I do not love New Year’s. I think I am usually so tired after all the Christmas celebrations I don’t even want to think about going out for New Year’s and I certainly don’t want to think about resolutions. But, when Easter comes and I see all the new growth on the trees and see the buds forming on the flowers, I get a desire for a change not only in my life but in my heart. This is when I begin to set my goals for the new year. You may ask “Why then? Three months have already passed in the year.” This is when I begin to focus my thoughts and my heart on what Jesus did for us. He chose to endure that brutal death on the cross.

My thoughts go to sanctification which is the process by which believers grow to maturity in Christ. Between our initial redemption and justification and our future glorification, there is a time where God expects us to grow. We grow smack dab in the middle of all the joy that comes with life. We grow right in the middle of all the hardship this world brings us. We grow amid of all our confusing questions. Through every season of life there is growth. Our growth can be productive where we are growing strong and producing beautiful fruit, but if we are not careful our growth can be spindly and produce rotten fruit. We must stay focused on Christ for our growth to be beneficial.

We produce fruit every time we grow. Our fruit can be evident as we show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We want to produce this fruit that comes from God, not from us alone. How do we make sure we are producing good fruit and not the fruit of hatred, prejudice, anger, pride, jealousy, bitterness, sadness, and shame?

We cannot produce good fruit on our own. It is impossible for mere human effort or discipline to fully live by the law of God. Without God’s mercy, we would all be doomed. Mercy in the Bible is God withholding some form of just punishment. There is no expiration date on God’s mercy. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). The word mercy here has to do with tender love, great and tender mercy, or pity. We like to think we are strong and do not need pity from another. But when we think about the pity that the Creator of all things, the One who rose from the grave, and the One who sits at the right hand of God gives us, that pity turns into mercy. He loves His children so much that He willingly chose to be our substitute and drank the cup of God’s wrath, so we do not have to. That is not the pity that we as human beings have grown to loathe. This pity is full of compassion, love, and acceptance. Isaiah 40:30 tells us that even young men grow weary and fail sometimes, but God is faithful and extends His mercy every morning. This simply means that His mercy is always available. It is not a light switch He turns off and on as He feels like it. God is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:8-9). He is unchanging and “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Along with freedom from sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection also came the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit guides, molds, and develops our growth into producing good fruit. By staying in God’s Word, prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit our growth can be strong and beautiful.

As believers we participate in Christ’s death because of the experience we have from freedom and separation from the power of sin. We experience the spiritual effects of resurrection now, but we won’t experience the physical resurrection until Christ returns to earth. Jesus’ resurrection is a truth that brings us such joy. What a joyous day it will be when we see Him coming through the clouds with arms open wide to welcome us home. We worship a great, loving, and merciful God. This Easter may you eagerly await the anticipation of His glorious return. Because of His mercy and the choice Jesus made for us, God already sees us clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. We can rest in the truth that He is producing something good in each of us and our faithful God will one day sit down and say, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

“Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4b

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25

Digging Deeper:

Read Romans 6:1-14 and Galatians 5:13-26

How do you see God’s mercy upon you each morning?

How do you see God maturing you through your circumstances?

What kind of growth will you ask God to help you develop this year?