BROKEN (part one)
In looking at the events leading up to the crucifixion we find that there were some things that were broken. Let's look into some of these and see what we can take away from them.
1) The broken jar.
Mark 14:3-9, "While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
We learn from John's account that the woman here is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. And we see that her costly sacrifice was met with harsh criticism. We also learn from John that the main critic was Judas. However, he didn't really care about the poor, he was upset that he lost an opportunity to get his hands on some of the money this would've generated since, as the treasurer, he would dip his hands in the till from time to time.
And Jesus came to her defense. His statement about the poor didn't mean he didn't care about them, but that this incident was unique and timely and there would be plenty of other opportunities to help the poor once he was gone.
Sometimes our generosity will be met with criticism. "Why did you give that away? You could've sold it for a lot of money?" And we might be tempted to regret our decision. But when we are confident that our sacrifice resulted from being prompted by the Holy Spirit then we don't have to second guess our choices.
"She did what she could". Jesus didn't say this to mean what she did was small in value or importance. Quite the opposite. He said it was beautiful. It's doubtful she was rich and that this perfume was no big sacrifice. On the contrary. A year's wages is significant. Think about taking a year's wages and giving it to the Lord.
She did all she could and no more; she gave all she could and no less. Do we give Jesus our all? I'm not talking about money, I'm talking about devotion and service; sacrificing our time and resources. We might think we're doing all we can but if we allow the Holy Spirit to challenge that we might realize there's more we should be doing.
However, we're not expected to do more than we can. Sometimes we do too much or we get frustrated that we can't do what others do. Some people might be better suited for certain things or have more time to serve. We shouldn't get caught up in making comparisons but neither should we settle for doing less than we ought to be, either.
Do we give Jesus what he deserves or do we just give him what we're comfortable with? This perfume was precious and valuable but Jesus was more precious and valuable. I don't know if she contemplated turning around and not going through with it while she was on her way but she knew once she broke the seal on that jar there was no going back.
"To prepare me for my burial". This woman was sent by God to do this. Jesus was to die a criminal's death. Normally, when someone died they would be anointed with aromatic oils. But this wasn't the practice when a criminal was executed. Jesus knew this, hence his words about her preparing him for burial. Since the typical anointing was not going to take place, God sent her to anoint Jesus beforehand.
And on an interesting note, this incident occurred only a few days before Jesus' arrest. With this very expensive and aromatic perfume it would have stayed fragrant for a long while. It's very conceivable that while Jesus was going through his torture and crucifixion this fragrance would've stayed with him. It would've been a very nice counter to the stench of blood and sweat.
And during his time of suffering, when a warm breeze brought the beautiful fragrance to his nostrils it would invoke the fond memory of this dear lady's sacrifice and love. This lingering blessing would serve as a precious distraction to the agony and repugnant surroundings Jesus was enduring.
"What she has done will also be told". Jesus makes it clear that wherever the gospel is preached, this story will be told as well. As the fragrant aroma of her perfume lingered on Jesus, so her story lingers on the pages of the bible. God made sure she would be remembered for her moving sacrifice. When we make sacrifices for Jesus the fragrance of our words and deeds linger in the hearts of those who are touched by them.
Eph. 5:1-2, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Are we imitating God? Are we living a life of love? Are we presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice? Have we broken our jars and anointed others with the love of Christ? Are our words and lives a pleasing aroma to others?
2) The broken protocol.
The way Jesus' trial was conducted broke many regulations. First was the arrest. The Sanhedrin (the religious supreme court) had devised a protocol in handling these affairs. One of which was that no arrests could be made after sundown. Strike one.
Perhaps this was Jesus' point when he said in Matt. 26:55, "At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me." Jesus knew that they didn't dare arrest him in front of the people for that would've produced an indignant response. He was calling them out for their shady secrecy and broken protocol.
Next we have the trial. Again, trials were not to be held at night. When Jesus was sent to Caiaphas there was supposed to be a formal trial with rebuttal witnesses and official voting but Jesus' trial was biased and rushed. The Sanhedrin were required to be impartial. If you read the scriptural accounts you will see that didn't happen with Jesus' trial.
Physical violence towards an accused person was forbidden and that rule was broken numerous times. Jesus had the right to legal counsel which was not offered. A record of the proceedings was required to be kept but we can understand why that wasn't being done. If I'm breaking all the rules I don't want it to be documented.
When Jesus went before Pilate the Jews had to come up with something that would get Pilate's attention. The charge of blasphemy wouldn't do it-that was a Jewish matter. When they said he was stirring up the people and causing problems that might get Pilate's attention if he felt Jesus could incite them to riot or revolt.
Their next accusation caused Pilate to take more notice. Jesus was accused of rejecting paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus did no such thing. He said give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.
But it was their last accusation that would really get Pilate's attention-Jesus' claim to be a king. There was no king but Caesar. If Pilate let that go he would be in big trouble when that got back to Caesar. But when he questioned Jesus about it, he didn't feel Jesus posed any threat so he said, "I find no basis for charges against him".
That should've been the end of it but because the Jews raised a fuss, Pilate gave in and sent him to Herod. That didn't go as Herod would've liked so Jesus was sent back to Pilate. Pilate thought that having Jesus severely flogged would be enough to satisfy the Jews but it didn't work.
He thought offering them the choice between setting Jesus free or a known criminal, Barabbas, would've been a no-brainer but the Jews picked Barabbas and asked for Jesus to be crucified. So, Pilate washed his hands and said he was innocent of Jesus' blood. The religious leaders were fine with that. They said, "let his blood be on our heads". You know the rest of the story.
Throughout all this rule breaking and shadiness Jesus maintained self-control. When struck he didn't strike back. When disrespected he didn't lash out. And for the most part, except when it came to declaring who he was, Jesus remained silent when he was being accused, whether it was in front of the Sanhedrin, or Pilate or Herod; it didn't matter.
If you read through the gospel accounts you'll see where false accusations are being leveled against Jesus and the High Priest would say, "aren't you going to answer" but Jesus remained silent. When Jesus went before Pilate, he was amazed that Jesus didn't defend himself.
Matt. 27:12-14, "When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor."
Jesus was silent amidst the accusations and false testimonies. He didn't speak up and demand justice for himself; he didn't counter the false accusations-nothing. He had no problem speaking up during his ministry. He didn't hold back before when the religious leaders needed a firm rebuke. But now he's silent. He knew this whole trial from the arrest to the inquest and the accusations were all bogus yet he didn't speak up and defend himself. Why?
For one thing it probably wouldn't have done any good. Luke 22:66-71, "At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Christ,’” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
Have you ever been questioned about something and you knew the person had already made up their mind about it and it didn't really matter how you answered them it wasn't going to change anything? If you say you didn't do it or that their information wasn't right they would dismiss it and accuse you of lying. So, they're not really looking for the truth because they believe they already have it; they just want to see what you're going to say or do.
In Jesus' case, it didn't matter what answers he gave it wasn't going to change anything-their minds were already made up. Their questioning was merely a formality. I don't think this means if there's injustice we need to keep quiet about it but how will we handle it when it happens?
I'm sure Jesus was tempted to answer his critics. I'm sure he wanted to set them all straight; starting with the way they were conducting this trial. But he didn't. His silence was directed by the Holy Spirit. I'm sure there are plenty of times when we might be justified in saying something but the Holy Spirit wants us to stay silent instead.
3) The broken hearts.
When Jesus was crucified there were some hearts being broken. In my sermon on why Jesus had to die I highlighted the Father's agony over having to turn his back on his own son and walk away from him. Just because the Father knew how this was going to turn out doesn't mean the separation wasn't excruciatingly painful to endure.
And it was the same for Jesus. He cried out in agony on the cross over being forsaken by his Father. But Jesus' heart was also broken over knowing his own people were rejecting him. Psalm 69 has some prophetic words about how Jesus felt.
Psalm 69:19-21, "You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst."
Technically, only the last verse is attached to Jesus in John 19:28-29. But we can see how the rest of this passage applies to him. He was scorned by the religious leaders and most of the Jews. He was disgraced and shamed by hanging naked on the cross. Everyone deserted him when he was arrested. He found no sympathy or comforters, no one was able to be there for him. Although Mary, Mary Magdalene and John were at the site there really wasn't anything they could do about his suffering.
Jesus' heart was broken over the ridicule he received from those who hated him. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, (the day we now call Palm Sunday), Luke 19:41 says he wept over Jerusalem because they wouldn't believe in him. The word for wept here means wail. He was sobbing loudly over his people's lost souls. His heart was broken over their superficial adoration.
And interestingly, when Jesus died on the cross, it is supposed that he may have suffered from cardiac rupture. Jesus may have literally died of a broken heart.
Another broken heart belonged to his mother. Think of how you moms would feel watching your child go through this. When Jesus was a baby being presented at the temple, Simeon had some prophetic words for Mary.
Luke 2:34-35, "Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
This last phrase is meant to imply deep anguish and sorrow. A grief that would cut to her very heart and soul. It must have taken all she had to watch him go through all this. And to be at the crucifixion cite and watch her son going though hours of agony on that cross.
Her heart would also be broken over hearing all the hateful words they were saying to her son. It was bad enough to see what she would never forget but to add insult to injury by listening to all those venomous words and hearing them laugh at Jesus would've crushed her heart even more. I feel strongly for what Mary went through that day.
And then we have his disciples. He was their closest companion for three years. He was the one who loved them more than anyone. And now he was taken from them. It's no wonder that deep sorrow would fill their hearts. I think of Peter when he locked eyes with Jesus after he denied knowing him.
Luke 22:61-62, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly."
Put yourself in Peter's shoes for a moment. You've just denied knowing your best friend and then you lock eyes with him. You see the look of disappointment on his bruised and bloody face. We know the word wept means wail so the phrase wept bitterly carries with it the idea of inconsolable wailing. That sounds like a broken heart to me. And no doubt Peter carried that with him until Jesus reinstated him on the seashore.
What about us? Are we like Peter? Do we weep when we fail our Lord? Are we like Jesus? Does our heart break over lost souls? Are we like Mary? Does it break our hearts that Jesus was treated so cruelly? Yes, we know this story ends with the glorious event of his resurrection but that shouldn't change how we feel about what he went through.
For me, The Passion of the Christ is the hardest movie to watch. I've only seen it a few times and I actually have to force myself to do it. This isn't a sit back with your bowl of popcorn kind of movie; it's too intense. But to me it's necessary because there are times when the impact of the cross isn't as vivid as it should be.
In my sermon about why Jesus needed to die I said it was to show the severity of our sin and the extremity of God's love. Watching the Passion movie hits on both of those. I don't know about you but I need to be reminded of these from time to time. I need to be humbled by his great love for me. I need to be broken by what my sin did to him. I need to live in that truth-lest the significance of his ultimate sacrifice begins to fade.
