A Prayer for All Occasions

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Mark 10:47

As Jesus and his disciples journeyed near Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was about to pass his way. So he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (10:47). When people tried to get Bartiumaeus to be quiet, he shouted even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

This simple cry for mercy has inspired countless prayers during the last two millennia. In particular, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, one of the most common and influential prayers is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” This so-called “Jesus Prayer,” which appears in a variety of forms, is spoken millions of times each day by believers throughout the world. It begins with an acknowledgement of who Jesus is as Lord and Son of God. This is based on, but goes beyond the messianic confession of Bartimaeus, who addressed Jesus as the Son of David, a messianic, kingly title.

Then, the Jesus Prayer makes a simple request: “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” We need God’s mercy, not just every now and then, not just when we’re in a tough predicament, but throughout our lives, each and every day. As sinners, we need to experience God’s forgiveness, cleansing, and freedom. This comes, not through our efforts, but through God’s mercy. Because of his love for us and his faithfulness, God’s mercy is new every morning (Lam 3:23).

How different our lives might be if we learned to rely on God’s mercy each and every day. Learning to pray The Jesus Prayer regularly helps us to be open to God in new ways as we acknowledge our dependence on him and his matchless mercy. I say this prayer often, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed by life, when I’m not sure I can do what my work requires, when my tendency to sin threatens to rule my heart. How thankful I am for such a simple but profound prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Have you ever prayed The Jesus Prayer on a regular basis?

Do you ever ask the Lord for mercy? If so, when? Why?

Can you think of ways you need the Lord’s mercy right now? Will you ask him for the gift of mercy?

What would it mean for you to live each day by leaning on the mercy of God?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

Explore more at the Theology of Work Project online Bible commentary: Short-Attention-Span Prayer