BEING MULTIPLIED IN BROKENNESS

I have been very blessed just lately having  my lovely daughter and son-in-law from the USA staying and visiting with me for a while. It is most enjoyable, but because it is AJ's first ever visit to South Africa, it is a very hectic time - there is just so much that he would like to see. What a  joy to be able to share our beautiful country with others.

Yesterday I was reminded of another kind of sharing: Someone reminded me of the times when Jesus took the few fish and loaves of bread and gave it to the disciples to hand to thousands of people who all ate and had their hunger stilled by it. It is recorded that He performed this miracle at  twice:

               "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but
                what are they among so many? And Jesus said, make the men sit down. Now
                there was much grass in the place. so the men sat down, in number about five
                thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distri-
                buted to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and like-
                wise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto
                his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. There-
                fore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments
                of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had
                eaten." John 6: 9 - 13.

Again:

                "And his disciples say unto him, whence should we have so much bread in the
                 wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How
                 many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. An he took
                 the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them,
                 and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all
                 eat, and were filled; and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven
                 baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women
                 and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into
                 the coasts of Magdala."  Matt. 15: 33-39

Such a little to feed such a lot! The secret lay in the brokenness of the fishes and loaves....

If it remained whole, hardly anybody would have been able to eat from it. But, even in the hands of the disciples, the broken pieces kept multiplying to enable a crowd to be fed.

There is another instance of Something being broken... referring to the last supper:

                  "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it ...
                   and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And He
                   took the cup and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my
                   blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
                   sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine,
                   until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
                   Matt. 26: 26 - 30

Jesus took the bread in this instance, and broke it and shared it with His disciples...

Shortly thereafter, as He predicted during the supper, His body was broken, in different ways before and when they hung Him on the cross at Calvary... through and by His brokenness, we all share the opportunity of salvation...and all who believe on Him was granted remission of sins...

Is that why sometimes we have to experience times of brokenness? So that in our broken states we may be useful to others?

Thank You, Lord, for Your brokenness on our behalf. Help us to be of value to others even in our times of brokenness.