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With Mercy Comes Salvation
March 28, 2026
Ezekiel 37:21-28 | John 11:45-53 | Psalm 85:1-7
As I pour over the readings for today, I spot an obvious theme – we are being reminded of Jesus’ part in God’s great plan, the role of the Messiah and the Passion that is soon to begin:
“I will gather them from every quarter, […] make them one nation […] one king shall rule over them all […] and they shall have one shepherd. […] My dwelling-place shall be with them, and I will be their God”
“You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
and blotted out all their sins.”
“Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done[…] So from that day on they planned to put him to death. “
Yet it seems a bit too obvious, and in fact there is a deeper message woven through today’s lessons. Ezekiel speaks of making one nation out of a house divided; the psalmist begs for mercy, that God will “withdraw [his] anger from us” and restore us to his good graces in the wake of wrong-doing; and the gospel tells of one man’s (and one government’s) attempt to balance righteousness and practical considerations – a remarkable story that begins with murder and ends with Easter. So then, what ties them all together?
In a word: Reconciliation.
But we are not like GOD, to speak a word and have it appear, so how does reconciliation work?
(I would like to simply quote here the entire works of Abraham Lincoln, Bishop Tutu, and the Dalai Lama, but alas, my space is limited)
Fortunately, Psalm 85 has provided us with a blueprint. It begins from the conclusion: grace, forgiveness, and turning away from “wrathful indignation” (have you ever contended with “righteous anger”?). Next, it shows us the heart of the one seeking reconciliation: contrite, humble, longing for “life again” and the restoration of right relationship – but it saves the best for last.
How do we achieve that restoration for which we long?
Simple.
Ben Lovejoy
