James tells us that wisdom shows itself in a range of ways (Jas. 3:13). In fact, the essence of wisdom is knowledge that is applied to real life. Your mind could be stuffed full of truth—an accurate and profound grasp of orthodox theology—but if you’re not living it out in your life, you’re no better than the devil (Jas. 2:19). The aspect of wisdom we are focusing on in this issue is mercy (Jas. 3:17). Indeed, James says the wise person is not just merciful but full of mercy. The word translated “full” here is not the usual New Testament word for “full.” According to one lexicon, it means something “that fills a space beyond expectations”; another defines it as “being thoroughly characterized by something.” Whatever mercy is, Christians are to be bursting at the seams with it! So we had better know what it is and how to be filled with it more and more.

Mercy is showing kindness to someone in need. It may be a physical need, such as helping the victim of a mugging (Luke 10:37), canceling a crippling debt (Matt. 18:33), or healing the sick (e.g., Matt. 15:22; 17:15; 20:30). Or it may be a spiritual need—someone has sinned and needs to be forgiven. God has shown great mercy to us in saving us from our sins (Eph. 2:4-5; Titus 3:5).

No wonder, then, that we need to be filled to overflowing with mercy—because in a fallen world we are surrounded by people who are in every kind of need and by people who will sin against us. To act wisely toward these people means showing mercy. How can we learn what this looks like in practice? When it comes to learning practical skills, there is no better way to learn than by watching a master. That is why skills like carpentry, masonry, and decorating are learned by apprentices. One hour spent watching someone expertly hang a door is worth a hundred hours spent reading a textbook explaining it.

And we have just such a Master of wisdom (and everything else) in the Lord Jesus Christ, the one “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom” (Col. 2:3), and “whom God made our wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30). In other words, if you want to know what it looks like to live a truly human life that is perfectly “full of mercy,” then pay close attention to the life of Jesus Christ. He embodies the mercy that is of the essence of God’s being.

Look at how he showed such abundant kindness to those in physical need. Here is a Canaanite woman (of all people) whose daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. The woman asks the Lord for mercy (Matt. 15:22) and she receives it, even though Jesus’ mission at this point was to the Jews (“the lost sheep of Israel,” v. 24). Or here is a father with a demon-possessed, epileptic son whose seizures regularly throw him into fire and water. He asks the Lord for mercy (Matt. 17:15) and he receives it. Or look at how Jesus grants sight to those two blind men sitting at the side of the road in Jericho when they ask for mercy (Matt. 20:30). Again and again compassion wells up in the Lord’s heart, and He shows kindness to the afflicted, the hungry, the poor, the sick, the bereaved, and the marginalized. He helps them, and He improves their lives, leaving them better than He found them.

Even more astoundingly, watch how the Lord Jesus overflowed with mercy to sinners. The very reason He left heaven and came into the world was to forgive sin; He was not calling the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:17). Saul of Tarsus understood this better than most: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” We see Jesus granting mercy over and over again: “He said to the paralytic, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven”’ (v. 5). How will He respond to that woman who had led a notorious life of sin? With overflowing mercy: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” (Luke 7:47). When His disciples fail to understand, when they argue among themselves, when they are immature and foolish, Jesus treats them with mercy, patiently correcting, rebuking, and bearing with them. When Peter denies three times that he knows Jesus, the Lord responds with mercy, forgiving him and restoring him to service (John 21:15-17). He goes to the cross to bear the unabated wrath of God poured out upon Him for all the sins of all His people, the greatest example of mercy that could ever be conceived. Even as He is being crucified and tormented He is still overflowing with mercy toward his executioners: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

As Christians we are all apprenticed to this Master of mercy. So let us learn from Him and imitate Him by the power of His Spirit who lives within us. Let us do all we can to help those with physical needs as we have opportunity and ability. And let us be quick to forgive those who sin against us, being sympathetic and gentle rather than critical, judgmental, cynical, and harsh.

Warren Peel | pastor, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, RPC