Illuminated: Hebrews 1-2Sýnishorn

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Greek Word Focus

ἐλεήμων/eleēmōn: full of pity, merciful, compassionate

Why It Matters

In the year 1206, Giovanni Bernadone, the 23-year-old son of a wealthy merchant, journeyed to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He was struck by the stark difference of architectural beauty surrounded by devastating poverty. In a social experiment, he convinced a pauper to swap clothes with him and spent the rest of the day begging. It served as a significant turning point in his life as he was overwhelmed with sympathy for the poor. In fact, as a result, he founded a religious order whose brothers worked to serve the poor and lepers. They gave up their worldly possessions to live in poverty like those they chose to care for. Giovanni Bernadone, known to history as St. Francis of Assisi, stepped into poverty, and it forever changed him - and those he chose to serve - as he was overcome with compassion and became eleēmōn. 

Mercy and grace are often confused. Grace is when one gets what they don’t deserve. Mercy is when one doesn’t get what one deserves. As followers of Jesus, we don’t get what we deserve because God is eleēmōn. Mercy and compassion carry with them the capacity to be sympathetic. Jesus understands the struggles of this life. He stepped into humanity, not as a social experiment but as an act of love. He was clothed with humanity, tempted, and yet without sin, paid the penalty we deserve. Therefore, he is not a distant and disengaged higher being but rather a “brother” able to understand, have compassion, and intercede on our behalf. He is eleēmōn. There is comfort and strength that come from being understood, known, and cared for. Our bravery has a source!

Application

Where will I function with bravery because of who God says I am?