Jesus takes the brokenness of the world on himself.
Matthew 27:46 46 And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
We are all broken. We are broken because others have hurt us and we have places that need healing. We are also broken because we have chosen paths that are not right - paths that hurt ourselves and others. We are not the good that God intended for us to be. We are not whole. This lack of wholeness keeps us from reconciliation with God and others.
In a sense, there are two ways that we can place our brokenness on Jesus.
The first way is a way of healing and becoming whole. We recognize that we are broken and realize that by following Jesus, we give him the power to heal us - desiring to become who Jesus made us to be. But a part of me holds back from Jesus' healing even now. I think if you are honest, part of you holds back too. Will we be bored if we become fully his followers? Some of the stuff he taught is opposed to our personal success. Will we look foolish singing Kumbaya - holding hands and praying? Will we have to tolerate "his followers" - some of which are nothing more than despicable rule followers not Christ followers? Will we have to forgive those who have hurt us? Will Jesus take us out of our comfort zones away from things that we like? We've gotten pretty comfortable living a half life of only following Jesus when it is easy. We are used to our white lies and savvy business deals that put our interests first. But to be whole, reconciled to God and others, we have to acknowledge all these broken parts and give them over to Jesus to heal us.
As Jesus hung on the cross, his death was for this purpose - to take on our brokenness - the brokenness caused by others hurting us - the brokenness we have caused ourselves. He wants to heal it so we can be our best selves. The selves he created us to be - in right relationship with God and others. As he takes on our brokenness, God forsakes him. And Jesus knows for the first time what it is like to be separated from God. He knows what it is like to be us. He allows this to happen so that he can begin his work which will be completed in his resurrection that will heal not only our relationship with God, but our relationships with each other too.
But there is another way we can put our brokenness on Jesus (and on each other). This way leads to spiritual death. This way does not reconcile us to God or to each other. Instead of acknowledging our brokenness and seeking Jesus' healing, we blame him and others for our problems. This is what both the Jews and the Gentiles did at Jesus' trial. Instead of acknowledging their brokenness and allowing Jesus to heal it, they accused him of lying. They blamed Jesus for their political problems and hung their sins around his neck. Jesus warned his followers that the same thing would happen to them - lies would be told and they would be blamed for other's brokenness. This way separates us from God and each other. This way is hell. Most of us live out this hell every day. We live it when we hold grudges. We live it when fail to ask forgiveness of God and others. We live it when we seek our best at another's expense whether that happens in a business deal, a marriage or a friendship.
Jesus allowed God to forsake him so that Jesus could own our brokenness. By following him - desiring him to heal us - giving him permission to transform us... thanking him for taking us on....our brokenness is then placed on him. And we wait for the power of the resurrection to complete his healing work.
Do we ignore that Jesus wants to heal our brokenness?
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