And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.

II Kings 7:8 NKJV

Who is as merciful as the Lord?

When Vatican II wrapped up in 1965, Mariology was brought to a new official level in the Roman Catholic Church. The catechism gave her the title, “mediatrix” (RCC #969). Numerous Popes prior to Vatican II and afterwards titled her “co-redeemer” (Benedict, 1918, John Paul II, 1980). Popes and Priests of Rome regularly refer to Mary as the “Spouse of the Holy Spirit,” “Queen of the Apostles,” “the Ark of the New Covenant,” and of course the 9th part of the Rosary begins “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life… most gracious advocate.”

When witnessing to Roman Catholics they often ask me, “would you rather go to the mother for help and mercy or to the son?” Pope John Paul II said it this way, “who will better communicate to you the truth about him (Jesus) than his Mother? (John Paul II’s Book of Mary, p. 23). The question is meant to come across as sound reason – surely we would go to the mother of the Lord for mercy rather than to the Lord because who could be more merciful than a mother? After all, she is the mother of mercy and most gracious advocate…right?

These ideas about Mary have many presuppositions including: that Jesus Christ could be less merciful than some other; that Mary is more merciful than Jesus Christ; that Mary can hear all people; that she is omniscient; and that Mary has power to show mercy to all who call upon her.

When looking at Scripture we see something quite different from Rome’s arguments.

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious, long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Psalm 86:15

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

I Chronicles 16:34

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

The Scripture references on the abundance of the mercy of God in Christ abound throughout Scripture. Jesus is established in Scripture as the most gracious Savior for He alone is full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

While seeming to be wise, the Roman apologist sets himself against the Word of God and against the God of the Word in his promotion of sinful Mary as most merciful and the way to mercy. Let’s consider God’s mercy on a practical level – the lepers at the empty Syrian camp.

Who in Samaria was crying out to God? Perhaps none other than Elisha and the few elders gathered with him. The rest were worshipping false gods, eating their own children, and starving as they called upon their idols. But God who is rich in mercy, and richer than anyone else in mercy, showed abundant kindness to a people who were not even looking to Him for help.

God saved the lepers from physical death and He did it abundantly. He not only provided food to save the body, he also provided gold, silver, and costly clothing. He made it as if Samaria had utterly conquered the Syrians when they had not lifted one finger in battle against them. This is the mercy of our God.

Notice who first received God’s mercy – the outcasts of Samaria, the lepers. Those who had been rejected by Samaria had first access to the fruits of God’s mercy. The last became first and the first became last.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to the world and kept the whole law for a wayward people. He bore the wrath of God for us sinners and died on the cross. Perhaps for a righteous man one would die but Jesus died for unrighteous men. Who has ever shown such mercy like that? Not Mary, nor Elisha, Paul, or Peter. Any mercy shown by men or women is in small comparison to the mercy shown by God in Christ Jesus to sinners such as me and Mary who were dead in our trespasses and sin and redeemed by the blood of the merciful Savior.

As you reflect today on the deliverance of the Syrian treasures into the hands of the lepers, consider the mercy of your God. Oh that men would praise the Lord for His mercy which endures forever! Today the most merciful and only wise God, is revealed to men in truth as the only Savior, only Redeemer, and only Mediator between God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Will you be deceived by the vain thoughts of men in regards to mercy, or will you search the Scriptures, see the mercy of God in Christ and bow down and pray to Christ alone? Who in heaven or on earth is as merciful as our God? There is no other, so call upon Christ alone and find in Him mercy that endures forever!

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