Lord Have Mercy On Me

Hebrews 10: Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

“1The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

3But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.

6You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.

7Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

8First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

17Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

Did you see that? God said once we turn to Him and repent, He will never remember our sins again!

“18And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

Daily Exegesis: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!: Bible ...

, Sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried to all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem. As they walked on the road, He warned the disciples once again about what was to happen to Him there. James and John Zebedee approached Him and told Him they wanted Him to grant that they would sit on His right hand and left in His glory. But Jesus told them they didn't understand what they were asking -- there is a cup to drink, and a baptism with which to be baptized which they must also endure. To sit on His right or left hand is not His to give, but it is for those whom it is prepared. He said to all of the disciples, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all . For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." gets all of His attention. My study bible points out here that faith needs to be specific, and Jesus requests him to exercise his faith by asking for a specific need. So often the readings teach us that God wants us to know what we want, and come to Him with what is in our hearts. It is a way that we cooperate with grace, by emptying ourselves in this way.

throws off his garment (his cloak) as he goes to Jesus, in a figurative sense he casts off one role for another, and he goes as himself openly, a man before God. In the Greek, asking for Him to "have mercy on me" is a kind of active verbal form. It sounds like "mercy me" in the same sense a child might ask, "feed me" -- or if a plant could talk, it would ask, "water me." And the word in Greek for mercy sounds alike for the one for olive oil: it is evocative of a request to "anoint me." In our image we have of mercy and , we see grace as a type of anointing, and a healing (both were uses of oil). So, when Christ calls us, responding to our cries for mercy, we come as ourselves -- and we come with our heart's desires, who we truly are, our specific faith. We cast off the cloaks of who we think we should be for a real and true relationship of the heart.

O Lord, Have Mercy on Me

The musical times

The churchman's guide to faith and piety [signed by R.B.].

The Friend

The book of common prayer, and administration of the sacraments and other rites and ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England : together with the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches and the form or manner of making ordaining and consecrating of bishops priests and deacons