The God Who Restores His Broken Pots

February 28, 2024 | By Carleton Perkins Cornell ‘24

image description: a broken piece of pottery rests on a windowsill

A certain pastime that I am a big fan of—and that I recommend to all—is reflecting on the Gospel as given by the God who created the universe! My love for astronomy may be bringing in some bias, but even without some cool science bits, the scripture of today’s lectionary is quite helpful for such a reflection. Meditating on the active roles God chooses to play in His creation—which makes up our very reality—leads us to praise Him and serve Him with greater joy, gratitude, and zeal. Indeed, even the beauty of the Gospel itself was fashioned by the Awesome Creator God.

In the book of Jeremiah, God chooses, in His wisdom, to use a potter—a fallen creation like us all—to reveal something about Himself (a fascinating choice by God, worth revisiting, indeed)! Jeremiah 18 tells us “The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.” [1]. God responds to this saying “Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done?” [2]. God reveals Himself to be merciful enough to spare a ruined creation, and gracious enough to mold it into something good and new. Indeed, God gives His creation an opportunity to change their ways if the creation, “concerning which [He has] spoken, turns from its evil” [3].

This is good news of grace that the same God that put each star in space gives to His chosen people. However, God’s people reject this message, neglecting its immense hope. In fact, later in Jeremiah 18, the Israelites flip what God commanded and try to, almost literally, shoot the messenger, Jeremiah himself. God had also already told Israel that if His creation does not repent, “not listening to [His] voice, then [He] will change [His] mind about the good that [He] had intended to do” [4]. Jeremiah, truly taking his Creator’s message of reconciliation, cries out to the only one who could save him: “Give Heed to me, O Lord” [5].

Later, in Psalm 31, we are presented with a troubled psalmist, David, also crying out to the one that created him. As he faced death, fears, and enemy plots against him, he speaks of his life as “wasted with grief and [his] years of sighing” [6]. David even remarked that he was “as useless as a broken pot” [7]. When people meet their wits end, it can lead to a place of realization of their own brokenness and lack of ability. Fears and doubts in our lives can help us to see that, like David, we can’t resolve or reconcile the suffering we go through. Alas, on our own, we are broken pots that have lost their use, never to regain it. 

But this is why God is so good. Because, if we call out to Him, He does not treat us as broken and useless vessels! He made us for more, and as we cry out to Him like David, He restores us and gives us new purpose, even in suffering. David also rejoices in this fact: “But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. I have said, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hand.’” [8].

The plights of Jeremiah and David are reminiscent of another person. The betrayal from one’s own people, the plotting of evil acts, and the reliance on God are quite similar to Jesus on Earth! Jesus, the son of God, had 12 close followers, His disciples, and it was one of those 12 disciples, Judas, that betrayed him. Furthermore, it was His own people, the Jews, who plotted against Him and called for His death, shouting, “Crucify him!” [9]. Knowing He would soon be going to the cross, to die, He cries out to God His Father, not for His own life, but for ours: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” [10]. 

Jesus, as Colossians 1:15-17 tell us, is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, the one through—and for—which all things were created and are held together. That very same epic Jesus, God’s one and only son, came in the likeness of the created, to suffer like humans and die so that we could be set free from our brokenness. That good news was laid out in love by God, and it is why Jesus is the maker and perfecter of the Christian faith [11]!

That is “just” the astounding beginning of what the God-made Gospel does! Jesus affirms that not only is He still molding the whole of His creation, but he also invites those who are willing to follow Him to Join Him in His suffering and glory. It was for the joy of our salvation set before Him that Jesus endured the cup of suffering that was the cross, scorning its shame, and He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven [12]. 

Similarly, in Matthew 20, the two sons of Zebedee, among Jesus’ disciples, wished to be seated around Jesus in Heaven too, and He invited them to share in His cup, and wait on the place His Father in Heaven had prepared for them [13]. What a Life changing, undeserved, invitation! It was so great that afterward, in Matthew 20, it caused the other disciples to be jealous of the brothers. But Jesus expands on the revelation of His New Creation. Jesus invites All “broken pots,” who would be followers of Him, into His new way of truth and life. Like the potter in Jerimiah revealed God’s nature, so also do followers of Jesus reveal God to those who do not know Him. Through Jesus’ blood, we are children of God and made useful for His Kingdom by serving others in truth and love, just like Jesus. Indeed, by taking the cup of the suffering servant—for God’s glory—Jesus mends the broken and gives meaning and purpose to the suffering of this life. Praise be to God for this indescribable gift!

References: 

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5] Jeremiah 18: 4-19

[6], [7], [8] Psalm 31: 10-15

[9] John 19:15

[10] John 17:24

[11], [12] Hebrews 12:2

[13] Matthew 20:23