Man of Mercy

But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion… (Luke 10:33)

In most of the world’s history, the taking of prisoners during warfare was a rare thing. Undoubtedly, there are some armies that still have a take-no-prisoner approach. Their philosophy is that war is war and there is no room for mercy. Mercy is the operative word here. For if someone is shown mercy, they must be cared for.
Someone once said that the Christian army leaves their wounded on the battlefield all too often. Left at the mercy of the enemy who shows no mercy. Sometimes people can seem pretty insensitive to others in their pain. Have you ever felt wounded and no one stops to see if you need aid and comfort? Sometimes I have been devastated by feeling very alone and battle weary while others around me seem so indifferent. When they are your fellow soldiers in Christ, it can be almost intolerable.
In the midst of the worst pain, there is a God who loves to show mercy and loves to see mercy. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus wanted to make a point about the one who is our neighbor. He’s the man of mercy who shows mercy.

I. A MAN OF MERCY CAN BE ANY MAN. But a Samaritan...The contrast of religious people who were supposed to show mercy and the Samaritan who deserved no mercy is hard to miss. Jesus said a priest and a Levite walked on past a man who needed mercy… while the despised Samaritan stopped to help. Sometimes being despised and rejected fills you with resentment… and sometimes it fills you with mercy.
II. A MAN OF MERCY WILL INTERRUPT HIS JOURNEY AND ALTER HIS AGENDA. ...who was on a journey...Who among us has been passed by someone while we were too busy with our own business? Who among us has been too busy to hear the Spirit’s promptings? People in need of mercy are God’s business. We need to know that when we stop our busyness and tend to God’s business, God’s agenda is advanced.
III. A MAN OF MERCY DEALS WITH THOSE GOD PLACES IN HIS PATH. ...came upon him...There is an intentionality in God’s design. He brings us to the needy so we cannot claim we didn’t know. He makes it plain to see. And then He watches to see if we see.
IV. A MAN OF MERCY SEES THE PERSON IN NEED. ...and when he saw him...Sometimes we can see the need without seeing the person. We can practice our religion without ever showing mercy.
V. A MAN OF MERCY FEELS WHAT GOD FEELS. ...he felt compassion…God’s heart is a compassionate heart that empathizes with us in our circumstance. When Jesus told this parable, it made the religious people uncomfortable with their lack of mercy and with the one who showed mercy. Have you been hurt while in need of mercy or hurt attempting to show mercy? If you’ve received mercy, you must show mercy and tell others about the God of mercy. The man of mercy goes and does likewise.