Good Shepherd Lutheran

Hope for the Brokenhearted
Mark 10:2-9
Describing marriage Jesus said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This picture is pretty strong imagery. It reminds me of a piece of plywood. When you want to make a piece of plywood, you take two or more pieces of wood, each of which is relatively weak on its own, and with a thin layer of glue you bond them together and they make something new. Something tougher and stronger than they were separately. But if you try to take it apart, you can’t do it without basically destroying both of the original pieces.
Jesus is teaching that marriage, as created by God, is intended to be a permanent bond, with God as the glue. It’s intended to be an organic union of body, mind, and spirit. “What God joins together, let no one put asunder.”
But divorce is the painful result of imperfect people trying to form a perfect union. It’s a symbol of just how broken we really are, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise since we’re living in a fallen world instead of the Garden of Eden. And I believe that everything possible should be done to keep a marriage together. But I also believe that in some cases that just isn’t possible.
Over the years I’ve seen relationships fall apart and I’ve seen the hurting people that are the victims. I’ve also seen that pain extend beyond the couple themselves to include troubled friends and devastated families. And because of embarrassment, guilt, or shame, too often those who are divorced even stop coming to worship.
For those who are divorced, Jesus is giving you this message. God loves you and desires to heal you. God hates when a marriage ends in divorce, but sometimes in our sinful world it’s the best that two people can do.
Our God is the God of love and healing. Whatever is in your past, your slate is clean from the moment you accept the forgiving grace of Jesus Christ. He’s the healer of the brokenhearted. He’s the one who bandages our wounds.
I believe that even when our human weakness has led to failure in one marriage, there are times when in God’s grace He can provide a second chance. But remarriage, too, must always be accompanied by careful, deliberate, prayerful reflection followed by repentance.
Jesus is challenging us to think about that today, just as He was challenging the Pharisees in Mark 10:2-9. The importance of solid families in maintaining a healthy society can’t be overestimated.
But remember what it says in Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Because of that, there’s always hope for the broken and the brokenhearted with God.