“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take and eat it; this is my body.’” Matthew 26:26 (CSB)

In Matthew 26, Jesus had His last meal with the disciples before He went to the cross.

While I’ve read this passage many times, something new recently stood out.

“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take and eat it; this is my body’” (Matthew 26:26, emphasis added).

First, Jesus took the bread, then He blessed it, and then He broke it. I thought to myself … Why would He not take the bread, break it and then bless it?

There is a purpose to the order. The blessing comes before the breaking because this was the cadence of Jesus’ life:

1. Jesus was blessed by the Father and the Spirit during His baptism (Matthew 3:16-17).
2. Jesus endured the epitome of brokenness on the cross (Luke 23:26-39).
3. Jesus conquered death through His resurrection and then ascended to the right hand of the Father. This is the greatest blessing for believers because we are united with Christ and restored to God (Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:4-6).

Blessed, then broken, then blessed again.

Maybe you’re in a season where you feel more broken than blessed. I understand. But because God has blessed us with His Son, every ounce of brokenness we experience on this side of eternity is pointing us toward the blessing of heaven, where we will be reunited with Christ if we trust in Him. God also redeems our current brokenness as a means of blessing others who are also broken (2 Corinthians 1:4).

We can know with confidence that though we endure brokenness and pain, there isn’t an ounce of our brokenness that is not under the blessing of God.

This is a hard truth to grasp. It may even be something we want to reject because it feels unfair or even cruel. I agree that it can feel that way. Even Jesus Himself agrees. Just a few verses after the Last Supper, He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane and cried out, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38a, CSB).

We don’t have to dismiss our feelings when it comes to our brokenness. Even Jesus felt the full extent of His emotions before His most broken moment.

We can come before God in humility with our raw, honest emotions. We can bring our brokenness to Him. We can trust that Jesus is with us now. And we can look to the cross and the empty tomb, knowing that though we experience brokenness, Jesus overcame it. Brokenness isn’t the end for us.

Blessed, then broken, then blessed again. Lord, give us the grace to endure this reality.

Dear Lord, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by how painful earthly brokenness can feel. Please help me remember that Jesus is my greatest blessing. He is with me now as I face hardship and await a day when You will make all things new. Give me strength as I long for this day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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No matter who you are, where you come from, or how broken you may feel, you can still experience peace. And living in peace actually begins with humility … Unexpected, right? Dr. Joel Muddamalle has discovered that the peace we want doesn’t come from the absence of pain and chaos but from knowing that Jesus is with us in those things. If you’re ready for this kind of soul-settled assurance, join Joel in the pages of his new book, The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility. This book officially releases TODAY, so get your copy now!

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (CSB).

James 4:10 shows us another instance of blessing through bowing before God. What heavy burdens or brokenness can you bring to the Lord in humility today?

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© 2024 by Dr. Joel Muddamalle. All rights reserved.