The Breaking of the Bread

(Foreword: This post is tied to a snippet of sermon I heard recently about living as a follower of Christ.)



"During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples: 'Take, eat. This is my body.'" Matthew 26:26-29 (The Message)

"The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our function and meaning as part of his body." Romans 12:4-5 (The Message)

There is something special about the order of the breaking of the bread. How Christ took it, he blessed it, he broke it, and he gave it.

Is that not what God does with every man and woman he uses?

He takes his people from where they began.
He blesses his people with amazing gifts, love, and mercy.
He breaks his people of pride, sin, self-reliance, and the world.
And He gives his people as a purposeful gift to the world so that we might bring Him glory.

Is that not what he did with Isaac?
He took him from the dead womb of Sarah.
He blessed him to be the heir to the promises of his father.
He broke him on a mountain top with a knife held above his chest.
And He gave him to be the continued sign of the promises for Israel.

Is that not what he did with Moses?
He took him from the river.
He blessed him in the house of Pharoah.
He broke him as he wandered alone as a fugitive in the desert.
And He gave him to lead his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

Is that not what he did with David?
He took him from the house of Jesse.
He blessed him with the annointing of Samuel.
He broke him as he faced Goliath and a jealous Saul.
And He gave him to be the mighty king of Israel and Judah.

Is that not what he did with Esther?
He took her from her home.
He blessed her with being chosen queen.
He broke her when she heard the plot to destroy the Jews.
And He gave her to stand up and save her people.

And is that not what he did with Jesus?
He took Him from the Virgin Mary.
He blessed Him with miracles, signs, and wonders.
He broke Him on a cross on Calvary.
And He gave Him to be the Savior of the world.

We are the body of Christ. We are to be dealt with in the same order as the bread: Taken, Blessed, Broken, and Given.

Taken from our former life through the calling placed on us.
Blessed with wisdom, truth, and the Holy Spirit
Broken of the idea that we alone are mighty and powerful.
And Given to be disciples to the world.

If you get hung up in any one of those early stages, you will NOT fulfill your purpose in Christ. Our prayer needs to be that our calling is revealed clearly to us. That God's blessings rain down on us. That God breaks us of whatever is holding us back from fulfilling our potential in Him. And that our actions as disciples give glory to our King.