A Cry for Mercy

On December 13, 1862, a series of attacks on the confederate army positioned at Fredericksburg cost the union army at the Potomac more than 12,000 casualties. The victorious Confederates were forced to remain under cover behind the stone wall and listen to the cries of their fallen foes.

All night long and the next day wounded and dying men agonizingly cried out “WATER! WATER!” This proved to be much more than one man, Richard Kirkland, could take. A sergeant in the 2nd South Carolina regiment, Kirkland pleaded with his brigade commander, General Joseph B. Kershaw, for permission to leave the safety of the Sunken Road and carry water to the suffering Federals. At first Kershaw denied his request. He eventually relented but would not allow Kirkland to display a white handkerchief as a sign of truce.

Anxiously, Kirkland jumped over the wall on his “errand of mercy” and into the face of almost certain death! Thousands of amazed men on both sides saw the young sergeant carrying canteens to the nearest sufferer. The Federals, realizing his mission, held their fire for one and a half hours. This ministering angel pursued his “labor of mercy” comforting as many as he could. “The Hero Sergeant of Fredericksburg” fell at Chickamunga on September 20, 1863 at the age of twenty years.

Two Cried

The Beggar Cried for Crumbs

The Rich Man Cried for Comfort

“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:22-24).

Two Confessed

One of Conceit — The Other his Condition

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:10-13).

Two Crucified

One Criticized and said, “If thou be Christ…”

The Other Confessed, “Lord remember me…”

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9,10,13).

Dear Friend,

We read of many heroic deeds that men have done in this great country, but Christ Jesus came into the world on His errand of mercy. He gave His life freely as the supreme sacrifice, to redeem fallen man. Christ Jesus poured out His soul at Calvary so this world, that has been wounded by sin, could drink of this well of salvation.

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

Friend, do you have a hunger and a thirst in your soul? Many have tried to satisfy this thirst with things of this world. Only Christ can satisfy this thirsting of your soul.

“Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).  

— MWTB