“Broken For Better Use”
Psalm 34:17-18 – “The righteous cry out and the Lords hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 51:16-17 – “You do 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.”
“Broken for Better Use.” It doesn’t sound quite right does it? If you are like me you probably can’t think of too many things that you’ve broken that were better because they were broken! In fact, I tried to think of some really important or expensive items that I’ve broken down through the years just to see if I could find something that was better after I broke it.
EXAMPLES:
Johnny Crackfire Rifle (Lopsided Twins - same clothes, same hair)
Grandma Hull’s antique lamp
Garage door and back windows
Try as I might, I can’t think of any good that came from breaking those things. For instance, I had to go back to making my own rifle noises when we played cowboys and Indians after I broke my “Johnny C. Rifle.” I broke my mom’s heart when we broke Great-Grandma’s lamp (Dad tried his best to glue all the pieces together again – but as with Humpty Dumpty – “all the kings horses/men” couldn’t put Grandma’s lamp back together again.) And as for the broken windows – they came right out of my allowance. None of these rejects from “broken things” are high on my list of “fun” or “good” things that have happened to me.
Oh yeah, I did break my brother’s head open in a pillow fight and he turned out to be a good-looking kid – but I don’t think I had anything to do with that. No, the truth is, when things are broken they’re usually useless, not better. Usually – but not always. I want us to look at three different stories in the Bible where something was “broken for better use.”
I. John 6:5-13 “Jesus feeds the 5,000.” (READ)
A. What Was Broken? The bread and the fish. (Five loaves and some fish to be more specific.) How do we know they were broken? vs. 12 – “Gather the pieces that are left over.” LVB – “scraps”; KJV – “fragments.” (signifies breaking)
Matthew 15:36 – similar story, “feeding of the 4,000.” Here, they had seven loaves and some small fish. And we read, “Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, He broke them and gave them to His disciples, and they in turn, to the people.” (Don’t know how the miracle happened. EXPLAIN.)
B. Who Gave the Lunch? We all know that! A little lad or “boy” according to vs. 9. We don’t even know who he was. The writer didn’t think he was important enough to mention his name. “A boy” … that’s all it says.
C. To Whom was the Lunch Given? Vs. 11 says, “Jesus then took the loaves…” The lunch came to Jesus who then distributed it to the disciples, and they in turn, to the people. Something wonderful always happen when we give what’s in our hands to Jesus!
D. For What Purpose was this Lunch Given? To feed 5,000 hungry men, women and children – and – so that Christ’s power could be shown through the performing of a miracle.
SIGNIFICANCE:
1. THE BOY GAVE THE BEST HE HAD TO JESUS. Although his lunch did not seem like much, it was the most valuable thing the little boy had and when it was given to Jesus its value increased many times! Give Jesus your best! Give him all you have! People are reluctant to do that for different reasons. I want you to think about what could have happened:
· He could have been stingy. “This is my lunch and you can’t have it!” He must have had a good mom! He was the only one out of 5,000 smart enough to pack a lunch!
· Could have flaunted it. “MMM, look what I’ve got – sure is good!”
· Could have been afraid of what would happen to it/that he’d lose it.
He found out he could trust Jesus with his lunch. He watched as Jesus broke it and made it a better lunch – and a bigger lunch! Can you imagine what that little boy was thinking as he watched his lunch become the first fast food meal for 5,000 people? “Wow! Cool man!” Are you stingy/flaunt/afraid? Are you willing to give Jesus your best – give Him your all? Do you trust Him? This little guy never even dreamed his lunch could be used like it was. Give your best to Jesus and you too can watch Him use it in ways you never dreamed possible.
2. JESUS SEES THE VALUE IN THE THINGS WE GIVE HIM. He sees things differently than we do! If you or I had been there we would have probably reacted much like the disciples who saw only how small and seemingly insignificant the lunch was. But Jesus looked at the same lunch that was so small and unimportant to others (perhaps even the boy in light of the situation/need) and he knew of a way he could use it.
Don’t let the “insignificance” of your gift (life) hinder you from giving it to Jesus! Jesus has a way of using things that seem insignificant/useless to us.
* What if the lunch had not been given? Here are some possibilities:
· The people would have gone hungry.
· The people would have left because of their hunger and missed Jesus’ teaching.
· The miracle might never have happened.
I tried to tell myself – even to prove to myself that without the little boy and his lunch, this miracle could not have happened. I wanted to be able to say Jesus needed this little boy and his lunch to accomplish the task at hand and just as he needed him, he needs you. But I realized that wasn’t so. I think the people would have been fed with or without the little boy and his lunch. Vs. 5 – Jesus says, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Then it says, “He asked this as a test for he already had in his mind what He was going to do.”
To say that Jesus – who raised the dead, healed the sick, and turned water into wine – couldn’t feed 5,000 people without the boy’s help is to say he was dependent on Him to accomplish the task. God is God and His work will go on with or without you and me. We can’t run around thinking that we are so important that without us God is going to fail. He never fails.
So Jesus could have performed the miracle by some other means. He had that kind of power. At first, this was a real letdown to me. Then I thought of something else. Even though Jesus may not have needed this little boy and his little sack lunch, because he was there and because he gave it freely to be broken, a great distinction was his.
3. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE PRIVELEGE TO BE USED BY GOD. This little boy had the privilege and satisfaction of hurrying home that night, running in to find his mom and saying, “Mom, guess what?!? You’ll never believe what happened. I gave Jesus my lunch and he fed 5,000 people with it!” We can have that same distinction. No longer was that little lunch insignificant! Have you given your lunch to Jesus?
Perhaps you can say …
* “I gave Jesus my lunch in the form of my time to work with the Royal Rangers and one of my little boy’s invited his alcoholic father to church and he got saved!”
* “I gave Jesus my lunch in the form of a monetary pledge to missions and now, somewhere clear across the world people have a place to come and hear about Jesus.”
* “I gave my lunch in the form of my testimony at work and, although it didn’t seem like much at first, I was able to lead my boss to the Lord.”
* “I gave my lunch in the form of my ability to teach Sunday school class and one of my ‘little boys’ is going off to college to study for the ministry.”
It’s not, “without me it won’t happen.” It will. God’s work will go on. He’ll raise up someone else who is willing – maybe less talented – but willing. It’s not that he needs us. but he wants us … He wants you to bring your lunch to Him so He can take it, and break it for better use. Will you give what you have? “Little becomes much when you place it in the Master’s hands.”
II. John 12:1-8 “Jesus Anointed By Mary of Bethany” (READ)
A. What Was Broken? The bottle of perfume. They had no lids, as we know them today. The bottles (usually alabaster) had possibly a cork or a plug of some type, which was sealed with wax. This seal had to be broken upon opening.
Another anointing (which we can’t be sure is the same) is found in Mark 14:3. It took place at the home of Simon the Leper and the “woman” remains unnamed although the account is quite similar to the one here in John 12. I’m convinced it was Mary both times. (See John 11:2.) In this instance the perfume was in a jar which actually had to be broken to release the contents. They would fill a vial or jar three-quarters with perfume and then seal it off completely with glass. Either way, something had to be broken (seal or jar itself) to release the fragrance inside.
B. Who Gave the Perfume? Mary – sister of Martha and Lazarus.
C. To Whom Was the Perfume Given? Jesus. It was poured on His feet. Then Mary wiped His feet with her hair. So that “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
D. For What Purpose Was this Perfume Given? Jesus said, in vs. 7 – “It was meant that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” It was to honor Him. But much than this, I believe Mary gave it as the most sincere form of expression of her great love for Christ. She loved Him deeply. I find it interesting that Mary was mentioned three times in the Bible and each time she was at Jesus’ feet.
Luke 10. The First – We find her sitting at His feet for instruction. You remember the story. Mary was sitting, listening to Jesus, while her sister, Martha, was busy fussing around with the responsibilities of the home. (Contrast of sisters – Martha, the perfectionist, Mary, the dreamer.) If you’ll remember, Martha got upset and jumped all over Mary’s case. Jesus gently rebuked Martha telling her Mary had “chosen the good part that could not be taken from her.” So Jesus made it plain that Mary had chosen well while he chastened Martha for having her priorities messed up. Mary was first found sitting at His feet for instruction.
John 11. The Second – We find Mary falling at His feet in grief in search of comfort. Here, Lazarus, her brother and Jesus’ good friend, had died and was buried. Word came to the two sisters that Jesus was coming. He was at least four days too late (vs. 17 - He’d “already been in the tomb for four days.”) Mary stayed in the house while Martha went out to meet Jesus.
We naturally wonder why Mary stayed behind in the house. It may have been that she just was overcome by grief and didn’t know what to say to the Lord. Her outspoken sister, however, could be depended on to speak her mind about Jesus being so slow in coming. Perhaps Mary didn’t want to be present when Martha spoke out of her grief to Jesus. Or it may be that Mary was simply always quiet – more of a listener than a talker. In her grief she might have preferred to stay home, out of sight among friends who mourned with her. When Martha returned to the house she had a message for Mary: “The Teacher is here, and is calling for you.” - John 11:28.
Mary responded by going at once. When she left, several people followed her, assuming she was going to the tomb to weep. So Mary came to Jesus and fell at His feet. Notice Mary said exactly the same words her sister had used, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21. But what a difference in attitude! Martha had scolded Jesus, upset because of His delay in coming. Mary, on the other hand, fell at His feet and wept. Jesus, seeing Mary’s tears, was deeply moved – it had an obvious affect on Him. The shortest verse in the Bible sums up how He felt in two words of powerful emotion: “Jesus wept.” John 11:35. Mary’s response got an immediate response from Jesus because she came not accusingly, but rather she fell at His feet in grief.
John 12. The Third. We find Mary at His feet again anointing them for service. At a feast for Jesus, while Martha served (naturally), with Lazarus reclining at the table with Jesus, Mary took a pound of ointment and anointed Jesus’ feet. Perfume that was so costly it would have taken a year’s wages to pay for it! It was the best thing Mary had to give but in light of her great love and gratitude for Jesus – who had spent time patiently teaching her, who had turned her tremendous grief into joy by resurrecting her brother … it was nothing. She felt compelled to do it. More than the anointing for burial, Mary gave what she had to be broken out of her great love for Jesus.
SIGNIFICANCE:
1. WHEN WE REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS NOTHING WE OWN CAN COMPARE IN VALUE TO WHAT WE POSSESS IN HIM. Mary gave her best – she wanted to give her all … the most valuable thing she possessed was nothing compared to her love for Jesus.
2. THOSE WHO ARE USED BY GOD SPEND TIME WITH GOD. Mary was able to show great love in a humbling way, by wiping and anointing Christ’s feet with her hair because she was used to being there. (At His feet.)
3. THERE WAS NO FRAGRANCE UNTIL THE VESSEL WAS BROKEN. The perfume bottle had to be broken before the fragrance could be released. So it is with us. There is valuable stuff in you waiting to be released, but you’ve got to allow yourself to be broken for Jesus.
4. THE VALUE OF WHAT WE GIVE TO JESUS IS A MATTER OF THE HEART. Whether or not this gift for Jesus was “broken for better use” was purely a matter of the heart. To Judas, who was out for personal gain, it was a waste of a valuable commodity…but to Mary, who had looked into the Savior’s eyes, the best use she could find for that perfume was to give it to be broken in honor of her precious Lord.
Isn’t that the way it is with us? “Wherever your treasure is, there your heat is…” Mary’s treasure was her relationship with Jesus – not the perfume. This accounted her to give it to be “broken for better use.”
III. Luke 7:36-50 “Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman.” (READ)
A. What was Broken? An alabaster perfume bottle just like before, but more importantly in this instance, her heart.
B. Who Gave the Perfume? Vs. 37 - “a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town…” A woman with a questionable reputation.
C. To whom was the perfume given? Jesus
D. For What Purpose Was This Perfume Given? It was an expression of gratitude in return for a debt Jesus had cancelled. She was a woman who had lived a wild life and everyone in town knew it. She had a reputation for “sleeping around.” She carried so much guilt around for her actions that she probably couldn’t face most people. One day, she learned this man Jesus was in town and she must have gone to hear Him speak. Most scholars feel she had heard Jesus previous to this account of the anointing and that she had already been convicted and forgiven of her sin. Overcome with gladness and relief from her newfound freedom from sin, she had to thank Jesus.
So she went and got what was most valuable to her and gave it to Him. When she finally found Jesus and confronted Him she simply could not contain her emotions. She was so happy to be forgiven that she broke down sobbing and fell at Jesus’ feet – wet them with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them. This was no small gesture for she was uninvited to this gathering and unwelcome by most of those who were there. In this society it was unacceptable for a woman to let down her hair in public. Lost in this moment of great love and emotion she abandoned all thoughts of what anyone might think and poured her heartfelt thanks out to Jesus – this Man who had set her free!
SIGNIFICANCE:
1. WHEN YOU MEET JESUS, THINGS YOU ONCE THOUGHT VALUABLE ARE EXPENDABLE. In heart-rending repentance, the most expensive (valuable) thing she had was given freely to be broken in honor of Jesus in gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins. (The thing He valued most was not the perfume, but her heart.) In sin we hold on with white knuckles to things we think are invaluable. When you get Jesus, you look back at them as cheap trinkets and can’t believe you ever put your trust in them. This perfume was once her treasure. Probably bought with money from her profession. Now, she had a new treasure. If you’re holding on to something today thinking it’s too valuable to let go of – afraid that you’ll never have something that good again – that’s a lie from the devil to keep you from getting God’s best for you. If you really meet Jesus, everything else is expendable.
2. FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS A MATTER OF THE HEART. Her sins were forgiven – not because of what she gave but rather how she gave it. We can’t buy forgiveness of sins. But her many sins were forgiven, vs. 46 - “Because she loved much.” The genuine test of a salvation experience is not emotion. We’re saved by faith, not by feelings. However, if it’s going to stick, I think it’s crucial that the individual grapple with the severity of sin. We are hopelessly lost without Jesus. When we understand how lost we are, how hopeless our situation, and then we understand what Jesus did for us, it should produce a contrition in us. Am I saying everyone should cry when they get saved? No, but I am saying your heart should be tender towards the Lord. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. What happened here with this woman is beautiful in its honesty. Gratitude just came pouring out of her.
3. JESUS TAKES BROKEN THINGS AND PUTS THEM BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. “All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn’t put Humpty together again,” so someone finally went and got the king! King Jesus took this person with a sinful past/a bad reputation…a person broken by sin and shame…He took her brokenness and put the pieces of her life back together again. He restored her.
Jesus knows a lot about broken things. There are some similarities in these stories we’ve read today and Jesus’ life. God sent His only Son – the very best gift He had (much like the ladies perfume gift). He was spotless. Blameless. Perfect. He came in the form of a humble servant. (Much like the little lunch.) He doesn’t look like much. Just the son of a carpenter. Born in a stable. And His heart broke because of sin. Not His – but ours. He came to be “broken for better use”…the forgiveness of sin!
“Broken and Spilled Out”
You may be thinking/feeling “Pastor, I want to give something to Jesus today. I want to do something for Him…but I just don’t seem to have much worth giving.” It may seem you only have a little lunch, but I want you to see something with me.
II Corinthians 4:6-7 - “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all – surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Contained within this jar of clay, this humble vessel of simple human flesh, is a great and valuable treasure if you know Jesus as your personal Savior. He took up residence in my heart when I asked Him to come in. And so, those scriptures we started with take on deeper meaning.
Psalm 34:17 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart O God, you will not despise.”
If you’ll just stay close to Jesus – make Him your first love – He’ll give you such compassion for the lost: your friends at school/work, your unsaved loved ones, people you know who are perhaps into some of the same things you were into before you met Jesus – that your heart will break for them…
…and when it breaks the sweet smelling love of Jesus will begin to fill the air and everyone near you will be affected. The treasure is there (if you know the Lord) in this jar of clay – and it’s very valuable. We just need to release it to “be broken for better use.”
