MERCY GIVERS - A Short Reflection of Song, Scripture and Surmise

When Jesus offers “life in all its fulness” in John 10:10, he follows it in 10:11 with “I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my life for the sheep”. 

Here is the caress and collide of the Gospel. The caress of The Good Shepherds love is soon followed by the call to be shepherd ourselves.

 

JOHN 15

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 

 

MATTHEW 9:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

 

Jesus chat with Peter … 

 

JOHN 21

v 16 Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

19 Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

 

The Gospel caresses us as we receive God’s mercy… we then are called to share that mercy with the harassed and helpless sheep around us.

 

PLAY MERCY by BEN KYLE

 

May every curse be broken, and every hope revealed 

May every blessing be unbroken, and every broken heart be healed 

 

And let there be mercy, mercy, mercy 

Let there be mercy, mercy, mercy 

 

Let the water flow, let the light shine 

Let the blood go through me like a river winds 

Through the valley, through the meadow 

Through my spirit and my soul just like a river goes 

Through the mountain, under the moonlight 

Let the blood go through me till I truly see the light 

 

Let there be mercy for my brother and sister, my mother, my family 

Let there be mercy for my friends and lovers, my foes and enemies 

Let there be mercy for my words and wars, deeds and deeds I didn't do 

Let there be mercy for every soul in this city may the Lord have pity over you 

 

Ben sings of mercy for the family… friends… enemies… wars… and every soul in the city…

Let us not look ahead for months of years… Let us consider the week ahead… “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down HALF AN HOUR for one’s friends.”

The Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep… what can we do for Him…

 

PLAY WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU (written By Bob Dylan) by HELEN BAYLOR

 

You have given everything to me.

What can I do for You?

You have given me eyes to see.

What can I do for You?

 

Pulled me out of bondage and You made me renewed inside,

Filled up a hunger that had always been denied,

Opened up a door no man can shut and You opened it up so wide

And You've chosen me to be among the few.

What can I do for You?

 

You have laid down Your life for me.

What can I do for You?

You have explained every mystery.

What can I do for You?

 

ISAIAH 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”