Entry
Grace / Mercy
What did Jesus mean
To show love or mercy.
Where did Jesus say this
Luke 6:33 — “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit [charis] is that to you? For even sinners do the same.”
A quick sidenote
Jesus spoke in Aramaic. He likely used the word ṭaybū → “thank God,” “praise be to God,” or “thanks to God.”
Luke wrote in Greek. He used the word charis → grace, kindness, or favor.
In English, this translates to “credit” → a reward or thanks you are owed based on obligations, accomplishments, or previous arrangements.
What Jesus did not mean
“Credit” or “favor” implies someone is “owed” something because of something they did.
But that’s not the case here.
If we break down Luke 6:33 in more modern terms, here’s what it might have sounded like:
It doesn’t take much effort to love someone who already loves you and treats you with love.
However, to love someone who doesn’t love you back and doesn’t treat you with love, that is much harder and requires much more effort.
So when you show someone love who may not necessarily deserve that treatment from you (let’s say, an enemy, an ex-communicated family member, or a criminal), it is unexpected.
It is unexpected, typically, by the un-deserving party, and because of this, it can be considered a form of mercy. Mercy, to many people, is considered a “favor”.
But true mercy is never a “favor” or “credit” to those providing it. It is simply love.
The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39–43)
To clear this up a bit more, let’s review another verse.
When Jesus is dying on the cross, he is next to a convicted criminal who is also dying.
The criminal says: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Translation: “Don’t forget about me when you’re in heaven. Bring me with you.”
Jesus replies: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Translation: “Okay.”
To some, this may seem unfair. Why does the thief get free access to Heaven, when others may spend every day of their life working towards it.
To others, it may seem unfair. Why does the thief get to go to Heaven? He’s a criminal.
There are a few things to keep in mind here:
- Jesus does not see this as unfair. He does not see it as a favor. He loves us all. He shows mercy/grace to those that need it most.
- If you spend your days loving Jesus, Jesus showing “Grace” to you doesn’t feel like Grace. It feels like Love. If you already talk to Jesus every day and try to live like Jesus did, then you see his Grace as “opportunities” (or, better yet, as just another part of your day). You are showered with his love already. The thief, however, doesn’t notice that opportunity. Jesus is simply over-extending those same opportunities to the thief that he extends to you every day. It just looks a little different. Because it is different.
- Pay it forward — we’ve all seen it before. (In the Starbucks line, possibly.) Now apply that same logic to the story of the thief on the cross. Grace leads to more grace, and grace doesn’t always have to come from Jesus. It can come from you. It can come from the thief. The thief just needs the opportunity to feel the goodness that comes from grace.
Where to start
Perspective.
When you change your perspective, you can usually change your perception.
Instead of viewing people as enemies or criminals, view them as people with different backstories, challenges, and upbringings.
Everything they’ve been through can either thicken the “tar” around their hearts or release it.
If the tar is too thick, that person cannot fully feel or hear Jesus. By showing grace, Jesus is hoping that person will pull a little bit of that tar off of their mind and heart and, by doing so, that person will be able to connect with Jesus. Once that person is accessible, they can be guided, nurtured, and transformed.
Benefits
Showing grace to others is difficult. We are not Jesus. But all you need to do is try. And the more we all try, the more possible it is that we can live in a more graceful world.
Or better yet, a world that does not require grace because we all feel love and share love in return.
Also said as: unmerited favor · God's grace · grace not works · the thief on the cross