Paul was almost pulled to pieces as he stood before the Council. He was a branch attached to the trunk who came before Him, who stood in the same city and was pulled to pieces for us and for our salvation. There is a two-fold lesson here. The first is that being pulled to pieces is simply the Christian way. Being broken for others, poured out for their welfare, is the way God has designed for us to love each other. And so Paul says, “Death is at work in us, and life in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12).

But there is a way to follow this principle in the flesh. There is a way to be pulled to pieces by the works of the law. Just think “Martha on a bad day,” who can’t think for the life of her why Mary hasn’t signed up for the meal train. And here is the second half of the lesson. The death at work in us is and must be the death of Christ. You cannot be pulled to pieces in any other way and truly feed others. It is this broken bread in you. So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ.