This Easter Week....The Crown That SpeaksSample

WEIGHT OF THE CROSS

“As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,* happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” Luke 23:26. In John 19:17 it says that Jesus went out bearing His own cross.

Some may think there is a conflict between Luke’s testimony and John’s, as Matthew and Mark, also record that Simon carried the cross, while John says Jesus bore it. The Greek word to bear is ‘hupopheró.’ It is to be under something, to endure. So John’s account is in agreement because Jesus indeed did have to bear His own cross. Some translations read, ‘along the way they came across Simon,’ indicating Jesus carried it part way.

Jesus put His entire trust in God as He faced the weight of the cross because He knew beforehand that He would suffer much. Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34

He had a heavy load, a huge burden to endure, yet He was willing to do it in obedience to His Father's will.

In life, we are often faced with difficult circumstances: terminal diagnosis, loss of loved ones, watching a child destroy themselves with addictions, and so on. These are all heavyweights of a cross, yet none compare to the weight that Jesus bore.

Another thorn in His crown to bear was His physical weight on the cross. Jesus hung there for 3 hours. His arms and shoulders tried to uphold His body weight. We sit in comfortable chairs and get Charlie horses. Imagine cramps suffered in a bodyweight nailed to a cross. Pictures depict a small foot platform to which they nailed His feet, but the bulk of His body weight hung from His upper arms. The burning sensation had to be unbearable. All that pressure on His chest and lungs made breathing difficult. For Jesus to speak on the cross, He had to push Himself upward to allow Himself to exhale. Psalms 22:14 prophetic words rang true.

EASTER TAKEAWAY: Whatever weight you are bearing today, know that with God, all things are possible!

PRAYER: Father, our hearts get heavy and sad just thinking and reading about what Jesus endured. I think about what You endured watching Your Son. The only way we can truly thank You is by serving You in obedience. In Jesus’ Name. Amen