Devotion: Broken Down
Please take a moment to read Matthew 26:57-66
This scripture has many layers of brokenness. It puts us at a specific time and place in Jesus’s life and turmoil.
Peter was Jesus’s rock, the hope for the church to live on after Him. He must face the possibility that this night won’t turn out the way he thinks it should. He follows the soldiers to Caiaphas’s court and listens to the proceedings, helpless. He feels so broken down when the crowd decides Jesus must die. What can he do about it?
Caiaphas has all the power is in his hands. A whole roomful of elders, council and high chiefs were listening and wondering what he will do next. Tension mounts. He can’t get Jesus to speak to defend himself, to engage in the questioning. Until after going through countless false testimonies, two witnesses corroborate their stories. Caiaphas finally makes the statement,”Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!”Jesus responds the only way He can. Caiaphas tears at his clothes in anger because Jesus didn’t say what wanted to hear. He feels broken down, but rages on.
Jesus feels cornered, outnumbered and defeated. Silence is His answer until the moment of truth. He declares, “You said it yourself, hereafter, you will see the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of God!” He knows his time is limited, and death is near, but He also knows His future!
When have you felt broken down?
During lunch with friends recently, I listened to their struggles and realized there was brokenness all around me. Some of them had recent illness, difficult operations, or concern for the state of the world. On Sunday we sang the song, “All My Hope is in Jesus!” It brought me to tears. In a world with brokenness, we must trust in the Lord to hold us and give us hope for the days to come!
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, thank you for sending your Son to take away our sins and to rebuild our brokenness. Make us whole again, heal our hearts. Amen
Written by Cindy Swanson
Cindy and her husband, Ray, have been members of Sheridan Lutheran Church since 1978. They have three sons, Ben, Andrew and Patrick who were confirmed at Sheridan. They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. Cindy retired from teaching writing to middle schoolers for Lincoln Public Schools in 2014. She savors a good cup of coffee, a well-written book, a lively discussion and chocolate. She lives near a cemetery and knows each day is a gift!