The Broken Body of Christ
March 30, 2024 | 1:07 pm
Happy Easter to you all! We celebrate Easter to honour and hail Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him. While there are plenty of non-religious traditions, such as the Easter bunny, baskets of candy, and Easter egg hunts, we choose to remain faithful to scripture and capture the real reason for the season. Scripture is a good place to look at but first let me tell you a story…
Once, there was a man who worked as a bridge master. He ensured that the bridge railway track was lowered and clear for any incoming train by lowering the levers. His one and only son loved to watch the moving trains. One time, he heard the noise of an incoming train and pulled the lever to lower the bridge of the railway track. But as soon as he did so, he noted his son was playing on the railway track and would be crushed by the lowering bridge. There was no way of saving him before the incoming train could reach him. He had to sacrifice his only son for the sake of the many passengers who were onboard the train. That’s what our God did. He gave up His only son for us!
I believe that from the very beginning, Jesus knew why He had come to earth. He had come to do His Father’s will of being the “Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29)”. He knew His body would be broken much like the bridge master’s son who gave up his body to save the lives of the travelers.
One time, while feeding the five thousand men Jesus knew there was no way of providing for the thousands without 
breaking the bread. He took the bread, blessed it and broke it before multiplying it to the hungry masses. He understood that His body would be broken in the same way for the saving of many. Immediately after this miracle, Jesus announced that He was the Bread of Life and anyone who ate this bread would live forever (John 6:51). His death would redeem many into eternal life.
Again, during the Last Supper, He took the bread, blessed it and broke it before handing it over to the disciples. He told them that the bread was His body and the wine was His blood. They were to eat this bread and drink this blood in memory of Him. Jesus expected His disciples to celebrate His broken body in the coming days. We do this when celebrating the Holy Communion and the Easter season.
As I read through the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and the resurrection, I take note of His love and meekness in carrying out His Father’s will and desire to save the world through His broken body. The broken body was necessary to save the fallen human race because, in His brokenness, He multiplied Himself.
Jesus understood that selfishness and self-preservation were self-destructive but self-sacrifice was the real deal. In John 12:24, Jesus explained, “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” In the same way, without Christ’s broken body, there is no salvation for the lost.
Today, God is expecting us to give up our selfishness and self-preservation and become selfless servants of God who willingly allow the Father to break and multiply them. Breaking means dying to our plans, our ways, our desires and our lives in order to live for Christ. He says, “Whoever loves his life, will lose it. Whoever hates his life, will keep it (John 12:25).”
While at the Garden of Gethsemane, He understood how difficult it would be to have His body broken and so He prayed desperately. At some point, His disciples fought back with swords as they wondered why Jesus, their deliverer, would willingly hand Himself over to be broken. Why didn’t He fight back? Why couldn’t they make use of the twelve legions of angels that were at Jesus’ command to stop this senseless arrest (Matthew 26:53)? Jesus was aware that it was time for His body to be broken. 
Like the bridge master, we too must stay focused, dedicated, and committed to the work God has given us to do while counting the cost. For the bridge master, the cost was his precious son. Christ didn’t have to die, but He did for the sake of the human race that was so precious to His Father in heaven. Did you know that He is soon returning to take those who have believed in Him and recognized His broken body? Are you ready for His return? Have you counted the cost?
Anne Odoyo,
Pastor