Mercy, Peace, and Love

Scripture:

Jude 1   Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, 

 To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:

Jude 2   May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Observation:

This very short letter in the New Testament doesn’t get much attention, and yet, it has a message for believers of all time. Jude refers to himself as a brother of James, which would also make him a brother to Jesus. Whether a half-brother or a step-brother, we don’t know, but it appears that both he and his brother James have come to faith after the resurrection. James went on to become the leader of the church in Jerusalem while Jude had an itinerant ministry, traveling and preaching the good news about Jesus. Because of his humility he would not have advertised that he was the brother of Jesus, however, history does tell us that he was. His grandchildren are remembered by the historian Eusebius as having been related to Jesus and the object of persecution by the government. 

Throughout the letter Jude uses triplets — or sets of three words to address the themes which he lays out. This letter is specifically written to believers who have been called, loved by God, and kept safe. According to Powers, “Jude’s audience enjoyed the favor, status, and assurance of followers of Jesus Christ” (NBBC). 

Most New Testament letters begin with a greeting that wishes grace and peace upon the readers. Again, Jude uses a triplet, wishing them mercy, peace, and love. This is the only New Testament greeting that does not include grace, and is the only one that references love. Some have suggested that Jude is creating a Trinitarian formula here, that it is God the Father who brings us mercy, Jesus, the Son who grants us peace, and the Spirit who provides the overflow of love for the daily Christian walk. 

Application:

I’m contemplating these three words: Mercy, Peace, and Love. Because they are a different greeting than what was typical, there must be significance to their presence. The first century church had not solidified an understanding of the Triune God, but we can see the thought coming out in the writings of both Peter and Jude. I love seeing this in a Trinitarian perspective because it provides a way for us in our Christian walk. Jude was concerned that there be a connection between faith and action. We cannot separate one from the other. 

It’s interesting that we encounter mercy here rather than grace, however, there is a connection between the two. Maybe mercy becomes more of a descriptor of grace in action. Mercy and compassion are synonymous and in this we discover a heavenly Father who has reached out to humanity with a merciful or compassionate response. When we arrived in Russia we were trying to translate “Nazarene Compassionate Ministries” into Russian and it was then that we discovered that mercy and compassion had the same root, or were, in fact the same word. When we began our ministry in Russia we often went to communities that were in great need and brought them help in the form of food or clothing. This was a reflection of the mercy of God that proactively reaches out to people in their time of need. That’s what mercy and compassion are all about. The Father looks upon us and ministers to us in our need, even when we don’t deserve it, or we don’t even have a relationship with him. That’s why we can see this mercy as prevenient grace in action. 

Jesus came as the Prince of Peace. Over and over again he spoke peace, whether in the midst of the storm, or after his resurrection, it was as if Jesus continually breathed peace over his followers. To be in Christ is to experience His peace. This is the invitation to those who respond to the mercy of the Father. In mercy the Father sent the Son, so that we could become co-heirs of Jesus’ peace. If we spend much time reading the news or perusing social media we just might find ourselves tied up in knots. Jesus is inviting us into a deeply intimate relationship with Him where we find an abiding peace. The world has always had her troubles, but those who were in Christ lived with peace. We don’t have to live continually stressed out by the events of our day, because we are able to live into the peace of Christ that transcends the noise of the world. 

The Comforter had been promised to the disciples. The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost and poured out holy love on Jesus’ followers. This infilling of the Spirit needed to be made complete, or entire, so that the people of God could experience that holy love in abundance. Holy love is what empowers us to be Christ-followers in the midst of a world that scoffs at our faith. We don’t respond out of anger, but in holy love, reaching out and practicing hospitality, even with our enemies. 

The simple greeting of Jude is supposed to be a description of the Christian life that is built upon the foundation of the Triune God. If we are lacking in any area of our relationship with the Triune God, then we are lacking in mercy, peace, and love. God wants us to live in fullness of life, which is offered to us in abundance. God doesn’t change, but continues to pour out mercy, peace, and love. I think the question for reflection has to do with us as receptacles of that mercy, peace, and love. Where do we stand in relationship to all that God has to offer? If we are lacking, it’s not because of God, but because of us. Let us pray that God helps us to see where we need to open ourselves up for more of Him. 

Prayer:

Lord, I want to live in the abundance of your mercy, peace, and love but I know that I am the one who puts up the barriers. Through your mercy remove any fear fear, and shine your light into the dark spaces of my soul and set me free so that I can fully live in all that you have to offer.  Amen.