Before I became a parent of smaller kids, I never realized how many times I would have to deal with broken things in my life. Recently, my son took my iPhone from the counter and, in a moment of pure baseball skill, chucked it about 20 feet across the room and hit the wall. He’s gonna be a star, but my phone is toast. I never realized how many times I would have to deal with broken things.

 As children, we break toys…or phones. As adults, we deal with a broken car or a broken appliance. Occasionally we drop a cup or glass and it breaks. More significant is the reality of broken relationships.

Broken things often tell a story of sorrow and disappointment, but there is also power and, occasionally, joy in what has been broken. Great power for good or ill can come from a broken atom. An archeologist may rejoice in the discovery of a broken jar. There is beauty in the broken. An artist can take pieces of broken tile and create a mosaic masterpiece.

There is power, joy, and beauty in the Bible in broken things,

Matthew 26:26 says, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”

This bread Jesus breaks is meant to symbolize Christ’s body being broken by thorns, spear, and nails. One of the things we can remember during our reading of the New Testament is Christ’s brokenness. And it’s only fitting to remember the reason for his brokenness… our own brokenness.

Broken promises, broken hearts, broken bodies… Broken as we ponder our own sins and consider the price paid. In this brokenness, God can bring new power to our lives and the joy of forgiveness and grace.

Take a moment today and remember Christ being broken so he could make our lives beautiful again.