Cristo Roto (Broken Christ)

Friday, we went to ‘Cristo Roto’ (Broken Christ) which is a statue of a broken Christ. The statue is purposefully broken, and it’s quite a tourist attraction in the largely Roman Catholic state of Aguascalientes. Basically, the purpose behind the statue can be summed up in a plaque that is at the foot of the statue. (I’ll loosely translate it into English below.)

"Leave Me Broken

I want you to see me broken. Remember that many of your brothers are like me, broken, beaten, indigent, oppressed, sick, mutilated… Without arms, because they don’t have possibilities or a way to work; without feet, because their paths have been blocked; without a cross, because their honor has been taken from them, both their honor and their prestige.

All forget them and turn their backs to them, although they are like me… A broken Christ."

Interesting, eh? It’s appealing because this statue and story reminds us that we must remember and recognize that Christ was broken for us, he was human like us, he suffered like us—no matter what we go through, He has been there. One of the most unique things about Christ is that He as uniquely human—so He can sympathize with us—but He was and is also God,  and He alone has the power to carry us through any trials and sufferings in life!

What really struck up conversation with Sarah, Dulce, Aaron and I is the fact that (at least in this depiction) Christ is left broken… and He’s saying “leave me broken.” But if Christ is left broken, what about His resurrection and power? In the Mexican Roman Catholic Church, this is kind of how many people see Christ—without much power. There is a heavy focus on Mary and the Saints, and less on Christ and what He did for us. This leaves Christ out as the focus point of the religion. People go to Mary and to the Saints to pray on their behalf… instead of first turning to Jesus. If you look at their depiction (whether a statue or a painting) of both Christ and the Virgin Mary side-by-side—you‘ll see Mary beautiful, colorful, and glowing, and Christ will be dying on the cross. Seeing these two depictions side-by-side… which would ‘any random passerby’ or any ‘casual observer’ render more powerful? What a travesty that a whole culture of people are being led to believe that ‘Jesus is the way… but He needs help’. He doesn’t need help! He’s God for goodness sake! ...I’m sure I could go on more about this, but to sum up—Yes! We have to remember that Christ was broken and suffering; He died for our sins. AND, He rose again!! He rose so that those who believe inHim can be redeemed, can have new life, can live in His glorious power! So, yes, recognize that Jesus was broken… but please, I beg of you, don’t leave Him that way!