The Broken Heart of God

When Jesus broke the bread and said, "do this in remembrance (or honor) of me", was He talking of breading bread or presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, broken and given out to the hungry of the world?
We know that God does not institute rituals without a meaning. Just as circumcision is circumcision of the heart; broken bread is brokenness of the heart. Jesus is the exact representation of God our Father and in Revelation 13:8 Scripture says that Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world, yet at the foundation of the world there were no men. Christ was not crucified until 27 A. D. or so. Who crucified Him at the foundation of the world? Or was this an attitude of His heart? A crucified heart.

He who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

What does this tell us about God the Father and what He appreciates? God appreciated the qualities that are of Him and His heart. God is perfect and rewards resemblance to His heart, and yet Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. So, this text tells us that first of all that God, the Father, is humble and God the Father, if I may say so, is obedient. You may say how is God the Father obedient? God the Father is obedient to the covenants He makes with others. And in the first paragraph we see that Jesus is crucified in His heart, so that also makes the Father humble, obedient and crucified of heart. When Jesus said do this in remembrance of me, was He saying to continue a ritual, well yes, but He was also saying that if you want to enter into the nature of God be broken and crucified of heart; be others centered. Love others with such great love that when they hurt you hurt, when they weep you weep. For, God does not give us commands that He does not keep Himself. When He says to weep with those who weep, does He not also weep with those who weep? Do you feel that I am portraying God as weak? Absolutely not. God is so powerful and wise, so loving and strong that He created the whole universe with words, He plunges the wicked into darkness with just a whisper, and He could end everything with just a word. When Jesus was at Lazareth's tomb, He wept. He is a God who has emotions, and those emotions are directed towards us. In Genesis, God was grieved that He had made man. Jesus said how He longed to gather Israel like a hen gathers her chicks; He longs for us. Many people look for a God that is whole and complete, yet like the bread, God is a broken God. Perfect bread is not whole bread that has never been broken. Perfect bread is fresh and hot out of the oven that is broken and given to your loved ones. This is our God. He is mighty, He is majestic, He is passionate, He is Holy, He rejoices over us with singing, He is full of joy and peace, and He is broken. For He says He dwells with the broken and contrite of spirit. Why, because that is who He is. He is the Lion and the Lamb, the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last; He is the joyful and broken one. Why do you think that you feel like you get broken all the time? He is trying to initiate you into His heart, but we resist pain. He is trying to get us to weep and wail for this generation. He is trying to get us to be broken for this generation and yet remain strong through that pain. To love this generation with undying dying love that is willing to be broken and crucified. He is trying to represent His heart to this generation through us, yet are we willing to be broken and know that it is ok; to still know peace, to still know joy, for this is God’s heart for this and every generation. For as Psalm 126: 5-6 says

Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

The harvest of souls is in the sowing of tears. For here mankind sees the heart of God towards them. That God is not a God far away, distant and cares less for mankind. But, their God is the God who is concerned for them, who loves them and wants to weep with them and over them. For as God weeps over them His song turns to joy at the return of His sons and daughters who have been dead for so long and have now returned to the Father's house, returned to His embrace, returned to heart of God.

Copyright 2008 James Wood

For more writings by James Wood:
http://www.xomba.com/what_factors_lead_humanity_to_prosper_and_flourish_an_article_by_james_wood

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