A few years back, a newspaper in Nashville (a town in the United States) was doing a series of articles on people who were suffering from a broken heart. They wrote to pastors asking them to consider submitting the names of people they knew who had suffered a broken heart, so they might see about doing some interviews. One perceptive pastor boxed up and mailed them the Nashville telephone directory! He was on target! Just about everyone, sooner or later, will experience a broken heart.
You might have sadness, hurt, or bitter disappointment. You may have been in love, but that love wasn’t returned. You might have been left alone by someone who promised they would never leave. You might have a child that you love more than anything; one that you would sacrifice your own life for; and they have rejected your love and guidance and relationship. You might have a broken heart for someone who has passed on; someone you will never see again this side of heaven. You might even be experiencing a breakdown in your relationship to God because of your broken heart.
Here are some very interesting verses from David, a man who experienced a broken heart on several occasions:
“You would not delight in sacrifice or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
How about that? When you are at your lowest, when you don’t’ feel worthy of coming into God’s presence, that’s when He’s the most receptive. That’s when He opens up to you, and you can really fellowship with God. I think we should be encouraged by that knowledge.
To help us begin to understand the mind of Jesus about this, I want for us to consider some events that happened, and are recorded in John 11.
As a backdrop, understand that Mary, and her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus, were beloved best friends of Jesus. When he was in Bethany, theirs was the home he most liked to hang out at. Good times, good food, good friends.
So Lazarus became sick, and they sent for Jesus, because they knew Jesus could heal people. Strangely, Jesus delayed going there for two more days. He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) Interesting.
So, two days passed, Lazarus died, and then Jesus made his way to the home of Mary and Martha. He came upon a scene of heartbreak, grief, and mourning. Here is an abbreviated portion of their dialogue:
John 11:33-36 (NIV)
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
John 11:25-27 (NLT)
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?"
"Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."
Here are some things we can learn from this chapter. First of all:
• Jesus understands your pain.
Say the shortest verse in the Bible with me. John 11:35“Jesus wept.” John 11:35. Now you have a Bible verse memorized. That’s the shortest verse in the Bible, but isn’t it full of meaning! Why would the all-powerful, all-knowing God tear up and cry, just like one of us? Because He is your Heavenly Father! He feels the same things you do.
Jesus didn’t just shed tears for show. He genuinely felt sorrow, sadness, broken heartedness, over the death of his friend Lazarus; and over the grief being experienced by his friends Mary and Martha. I think also the greater situation that the entire human race experiences hung heavy on his heart. I think Jesus also cried, as he felt the pain and grief of persons, experiencing the end results of our sin and rebellion - death, sickness, broken relationships, and suffering. All of these things together caused Jesus to weep, I believe. No matter what it is, Jesus understands your pain. Understand also -
• Jesus will be with you in your pain.
Too often, when a person feels hurt, when they feel emotional pain, they hole up. Like a wounded animal, we go to our cave and lick our wounds. We feel all alone. We wonder if anyone cares.
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