The Great Multiplier

“May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you” (v2).

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love math and those who don’t. There’s a couple of generations of folks who memorized our multiplication tables back in elementary school. Learning to multiply simple numbers wasn’t too bad. But calculating the answer when huge numbers are multiplied is hard. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I can do the math in my head when I see 147,569 x 29,658 = ?. I could probably figure this one out with paper and pencil but would prefer a calculator. Well, I have some very good news for you. I can’t promise you there will be no math on the final. But I can tell you that Christ will handle all the arithmetic. You see, Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Here in the second verse of his very short letter, Jude prays for his readers. He asks God to increase their “mercy, peace, and love” (v2). And when I say he asks God, I mean he asks his big Brother. Now I don’t know if Jesus’ helped his kid brother with his math homework. But it is clear that Jude knows that Jesus is great at multiplication. Maybe He learned from His adoptive dad that measuring and calculations are an important part of carpentry. You’ve heard the only saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” Whatever the case, Jude prays to His Brother that He would multiply these in the lives of his friends.

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

The first request is for more mercy. This is the Greek word eleos. Generally, this is also withholding punishment that is deserved. Because of our rebellion against God, each one of us deserves to die a rebel’s death. That’s where Jesus steps in. He’s willing to step in and suffer the execution for our sin on our behalf. But the biblical idea of mercy is much deeper and richer than getting the divine punishment that we rightly deserve. It’s also compassion toward someone in serious need. It’s kindness, concern, and pity. It’s goodwill especially to the afflicted with the intention to do something to help. Jude prays that Jesus would demonstrate His incredible compassion to us in real and practical ways. I certainly won’t turn down God’s help. What about you? Yeah, I didn’t you would.

Jude goes to his Brother for mercy because He was on a mission of mercy. Time after time, Jesus dripped with mercy for the people He met (Mt 15:22). Christ drips with mercy because He’s God, and God is “rich in mercy (Gr. eleos)” (Eph 2:4). God promises a fresh batch of His endless mercy hot off the griddle each and every morning (Lam 3:22-23). You may be wondering where you can find a heapin’ helpin’ of His pipin’ hot mercy. So very glad you asked. The exclusive distributor for divine mercy is found at the foot of Jesus’ throne. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy (Gr. eleos) and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Jude knows where to go.

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Next, Joe and Mary’s boy prays for our “peace (Gr. eirene)” (v2). This is so much more than a lack of war. When the writers of the Bible talk about peace, they’re talking about the great old Hebrew word shalom. It describes harmony, health, welfare, and freedom from anxiety. Peace is the original state of God’s creation. Everything working in perfect rhythm. Well, it didn’t take long for our first parents to toss that in the toilet. And we’ve been searching for peace ever since. Is your life jacked up? Need a little peace? Need a LOT of peace? Yeah, me too. The good news is that Jude knows a Guy. 

Because of what Jesus has done for us that we could never dream of doing for ourselves, “we have peace (Gr. eirene) with God” (Rom 5:1). The Apostle Paul prays for his friends in Rome, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace (Gr. eirene) in believing” (Rom 15:13). Don’t forget that peace is a big part of the delicious fruit God’s Spirit is growing in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). Jude’s brother is the source of this perfect rhythm. Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6). Yeah, Jude knows exactly to ask for more peace. 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

If more mercy and more peace isn’t enough, the author doesn’t stop there. He pleads with God to shower us with more and more of His love. According to MacArthur, Jewish folks would greet each other by wishing peace and grace. Jude adds love to make this a distinctly Gospel cocktail (oops, sorry if I offended any of my friends who don’t drink alcohol with that one!). Jude prays for more of God’s “love” (v2). This is that wonderful Greek word agape. The problem is that we’ve so overused this term that it’s lost it’s flavor. Kinda like old chewing gum. And that’s a crying shame. Agape is a crazy word that describes a love like no other. It’s love in action. It’s love that does. It’s not just a warm fuzzy feeling toward somebody. It’s love demonstrated. It’s love accomplished. The Apostle John goes so far as to say “God is love” (1Jn 4:8, 16). God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son on the greatest rescue mission of all time to save us. Talk about love accomplished! And once again, God promises to grow His love in our lives as juicy part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.

Christ’s kid brother doesn’t just as for a little more “mercy, peace, and love” for his friends. He gets a little greedy on our behalf. He begs for it to “be multiplied” (v2). Jude uses the verb plethuno. Here’s where the idea of math comes into play. It means to increase greatly in number or amount, give in abundance, and grow. His prayer isn’t just a wee bit more of the three. He asks our Savior to crank it up. Unleash the divine firehose of His goodness. More! More!! More!!! This isn’t addition. Nope, we’re talking multiplication. Jude knows just to ask for more mercy, more peace, and more love. 

Jesus is the Great Multiplier.