Break It then Bless It? …Welcome Weekend Musing readers and a special welcome to new readers who just signed up. As we head our walk to Calvary, I have been reading specific moments on what Jesus did during this time and one moment was glaring and staring right at me. It was the Passover Meal with Jesus and his disciples.

We’ve all read the passage in Matthew 26:26 [from The Voice Translation]: “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He offered a blessing over the bread, and then He broke it and gave it to His disciples. (Jesus) Take this and eat; it is My body. And then He took the cup of wine, He made a blessing over it, and He passed it around the table. Take this and drink, all of you.”

We know these words because each Sunday we partake in Holy Communion. So, what was different for me today with these words of Jesus? Well, what did Jesus do FIRST—he took the bread and blessed it then he broke it. Same with the cup, first he blessed it then he gave it to his disciples. And suddenly it hit me: “why did Jesus break the bread then bless it?”

This sent me back into some of my seminary books and other papers I keep, and in those teachings, I found the reminder I needed from Dr. Joel Muddamalle, a seminary professor who also is the Director of Theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, founded by my dear friend Lysa TerKuerst. Those daily devotions are some of my favorite reads.

Joel reminded me that: “there is a purpose to the order, the blessing comes before the breaking because this was the cadence of Jesus’ life here on earth.” Let that sink into your brain for a moment. Then, think of the many stories you know of Jesus’ life—from his baptism to the brokenness on the cross, his “cadence in ministry” unfolded before us. In each episode of Jesus’ life among us, we find blessings first, then brokenness, and this repeated order was in every step of his life and teaching.

Are you in a season right now where you feel more broken than blessed? How is your “cadence in life?” For most of us, some days are up and others are down. We experience brokenness and healing—brokenness and healing, and over and over it goes. But we must ask ourselves “what do I do with the broken parts that just keep coming-will they ever stop?” We find an answer to this question in 1 Peter 5 [NLT]: In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

Let’s embrace this blessing God has given us in Jesus Christ: “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. And while here on earth God redeems our current brokenness and reminds us to share this same blessing with others that are broken and looking for help. Guide them to the God who created them and loves them, the God who puts our broken pieces back together with blessings upon blessings!”

Here is one other blessing and breaking: because of our faith in God, we can know with all confidence that though we endure brokenness and pain, there isn’t an ounce of our brokenness that is not under the blessing of God!

You and I 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 that started in the Garden of Gethsemane and all the way to the cross at Calvary. Jesus welcomes our raw and honest emotions in those broken places in our lives. Knowing how Jesus overcame brokenness tells us our brokenness isn’t the end for us either. In Jesus, we are blessed first, then brokenness can come in again, but then we’re blessed again…the cycle continues as Jesus tenderly puts us “back together again.” AMEN.