I saw thuis thread and thought of something I wrote some time ago. I hope it is a blessing....
Jesus gives the broken and crushed a promise of hope. The Psalmist said: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (
Psalms 34:18 ESV).
David knew all too well what it’s like to be heartbroken and crushed in spirit. He felt the stings of rejection from his father, his brothers, his king, his men, his people, his children, and his wife. He knew that sometimes a man can strive to be his best, and yet still be rejected by those he cares for the most.
Jesus said this: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (
Matthew 5:3 ESV).
“Poor in spirit” is not about physical poverty, but speaks of man’s impoverished soul crying out for Jesus. Those who recognize this need, Jesus said, inherit the kingdom of heaven.
John the Baptist was chosen to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, John’s ministry was foretold though the mouth of the prophets. He was given the task to baptize Jesus, thus inaugurating Jesus’ earthly ministry. John’s life was anointed of God and yet toward the close of John’s calling he was plagued with rejection and doubt. While in prison, John began to question his life’s calling. Fears and doubts began to gnaw at his mind. He might have wondering whether he spent his time preaching about the correct man. He might have thought he had the right man, but believed that Jesus was not doing enough. Maybe he wondered if Jesus was the One, or was there yet to be another one to come. Regardless, in desperation he sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether He was the one to which they awaited. Jesus never questioned John’s inquiry. He did not rebuke John for his doubt. What He did do was answer John’s question and heal his doubt by saying: "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me" (
Luke 7:22-23 ESV).
Notice Jesus’ care for the broken and crushed of this world are the evidences of He said proved He is mankind’s savior. Jesus told those disciples to go back and tell John that He not only notices men’s needs, but He also takes action that brings them change. Jesus then did something to embolden John. He told those men to tell John that there is a blessing that comes with not being offended by Jesus. In context, Jesus is saying that there is a blessing awaiting those in the midst of test and trial if they won’t allow their distress to turn them away from Jesus.
Jesus knows what it is like to be broken and crushed. Isaiah prophesied: He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed (
Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV).
Jesus experienced the distresses of life firsthand. He felt rejection and the stinging comments some men ignorantly make against those who are tested and tried. Yet during Jesus’ times of brokenness and crushing, He showed men the way in which they should maintain their faith in God.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (
Hebrews 4:15 ESV).
Once a year the High Priest approached God with man’s sin offering. Jesus also took care of man’s sin offering, but what's more He ministers to man’s weakness and brokenness with a sympathy birthed from experiences He had like their own. Jesus has not only “been there and done that,” but He also has the ripped and bloodied tee-shirt to prove it!
Jesus calls us to embrace our brokenness and our crushed spirit. In God’s kingdom, pain is designed to lead us to Jesus’ healing. He said if we will look to Him, He would always there in our time of need. Jesus promises He is near the brokenhearted and that He saves the crushed in spirit. This means there is a blessing awaiting those who are broken and crushed in spirit. Don’t allow offense to deprive you of the blessed rest found in Jesus’ presence.
Grace and peace,
TKB
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