You don't have to go into a prison to find people who are "broken." There's so much pain today, and so much of it is from broken things - broken families, broken health, broken hearts, broken trust.

It may be even in spite of a life that's reasonably successful and outwardly looks fine.

The Word of God in Hebrews 4:14 says, "Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess." Jesus is called the "high priest." High priests were the men in the Old Testament who represented people to God. So Jesus is now our personal representative with God in Heaven.

If you were to walk up to this Savior and ask, "Are you broken?" He might refer you to the next verse. It says, "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence" ( Hebrews 4:15-16).

He's walked in your shoes. He's felt what you feel except He never responded by doing something outside of God's will. You can come to Him with confidence because you are going to a Savior who has lived the feelings you are bringing to Him. He knows what it is to be poor, to be turned on by your family, to be betrayed by someone very close, to be lonely, and to be murdered. This Savior knows your pain.

He went way beyond the pain to the core reason for your wounds - human sin. We're all the victims of sin. It is your personal rebellion against your Creator saying, "God, you run the Universe, I'll run me." You might be making choices that increase your pain because you're away from the One who created you.

Other people can empathize, and there are some counselors who can help you understand the pain, but only Jesus can carry your pain and begin to heal a lifetime of scars. He says, "I came to bind up the brokenhearted" ( Isaiah 61:1). The great tragedy may be that you're needlessly carrying all your hurt alone because this Savior isn't your Savior. Maybe you have never given yourself to Him.

Jesus is saying to you today, "Why are you carrying that all alone? I died for you. Let me be your Savior and let Me carry your pain. Let Me begin to apply my love to your wounds." If you've never done that, why walk alone one more day? Only someone who's been "broken" can help you. Come to the mangled body on the blood-stained cross and see that the Son of God was "broken" so you don't have to be anymore.