SUNDAY IS COMING – Haitian Christian Outreach

When we see broken, Jesus sees beautiful…

The Woman At The Well

“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is quite true.” (John 4:17-18)

Not only was she a woman but also a Samaritan woman who had had many husbands. A Samaritan woman labeled broken by her own community and therefore she waited until midday when she knew no one else would be at the well to fetch her water. Seen as broken by her community but to Christ she was the Samaritan who, because of her testimony, many would be united with Christ. 

Paul

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your holy people in Jerusalem.” 

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:13, 15-16)

Paul, once known as Saul, was famous for his persecution of those who called on the name of the Lord Jesus. Arresting entire families and murdering many in the name of religion, Paul was utterly broken and yet, Jesus used this man to spread the Gospel across 10,000 miles. Throughout his work as a missionary, God used Paul as an instrumental part of spreading the Word and establishing churches. 

The Alabaster Jar

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. (Mark 14: 4-5)

This woman, a woman who lived a sinful life as described in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 7:36-50), heard Jesus was in town. She brought to the feet of Christ the best offering she could think to bring in honor and worship of Him. When she breaks the jar of expensive perfume, the Pharisee and the disciples are shocked and appalled that she would be so wasteful and that Jesus was allowing someone like her to touch him. But Jesus tells them it is something beautiful that this broken woman has done by breaking this jar and anointing Him with its contents. In Luke, when the Pharisee rebuked Jesus in his thoughts for allowing this sinful woman to touch Him, Jesus is uses the opportunity to once again prepare the disciples for His death as well as teach a lesson on forgiveness. 

Crucifixion 

 And bearing His cross went forth into a placed called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified Him. (John 19:17-18) 

The hill of Golgotha, Calvary, where Christ was crucified was at that time a place of death, in every sense of the word. And yet, for Christ to give up His life in one of the most horrific ways on this particular spot was not by accident. This was a place where a worldly ruler chose to display death and destruction openly to all who passed, but our Heavenly King used it to bring healing, hope and Eternal Life!

The Bible is full of so many examples like this and many more since. Jesus already knew the brokenness this world would cause today, the broken people He would encounter during His time here on earth and how our brokenness would ultimately break Him on a cross. Despite knowing, Christ willingly died on a broken tree in order to restore the beautiful relationship between our Heavenly Father and His children. When we see broken, Jesus sees beautiful.