Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

This weekend, there was an attack upon humanity. This weekend, evil visited Paris, France. This weekend, the world grieves. This weekend, the world needs mercy.

This weekend, Davide Martello loaded his piano on a trailer and drove from Germany to Paris, a 400-mile trek to unload his piano outside the Bataclan theatre and play Imagine by John Lennon. He wanted to give comfort and hope. He wanted to show mercy to grief-stricken people. Below are the words to Imagine.

I applaud Martello for his compassion, his mercy.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7

“An eye for distress, a heart of pity, an effort to help, in spite of enmity—that’s mercy.” John Piper

Martello is known for loading his piano ono a trailer and taking it to troubled areas. Mercy.

Jesus showed His mercy through healing all who came to Him, teaching and feeding the masses, and challenging the traditions of the religious leaders.

“When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.”  Mark 6:34

After His teachings, Jesus fed the crowd. Sheep without a shepherd. Isn’t this the condition of most of our world?

It’s been said that the Isis terrorists want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to change the world, even at the risk of death.

There are many Christians who are this passionate, many who are in prisons, who are being beaten and killed for their faith. They are making a difference in the world, even at the risk of death.Through their persecutions, their persecutors are recognizing something different about them. Some come to know Jesus. Some become Christians.

Jesus died to pay the price for man’s sin. He was beaten beyond recognition and suffered a horrible death upon the cross … because He is merciful … because He loves you.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

There is hope. God raised Jesus from the dead, and He is our merciful and faithful high priest. He advocates for His followers.

“Therefore He [Jesus] 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. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18

I wish Martello had played Amazing Grace.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

“T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.”

My prayer

Father in heaven, the world is reeling at the evil that just happened. Use this to bring hope to the world, to show the world that Jesus is the world’s Great Shepherd, that He is the only way to peace, the only way to a world imagined with people sharing, people as one, people redeemed. Thank You that Jesus has paid the price for our sins, and He is our advocate in heaven. Thank You for the salvation that You have provided. Thank You for Your mercy.