Cross Bearing

Most Christians readily identify with the crucifixion. We know that Jesus suffered for us on the cross. We confess that our sin debt has been paid in full through the precious atoning blood that Christ shed. He died and rose again giving us the assurance that the way to salvation has been paved for those who trust Him.

While it is true that understanding the cross is an essential foundational truth, I believe that it is also important for us to study the events leading up to the crucifixion. Every event in the life of Jesus is significant to the believer, and we can find hope and encouragement in every pain He suffered.

Many Christians misinterpret this scripture to say, "carry his cross". But Jesus did not say, "carry his cross"; He said, "take up his cross" see Matthew 16:24. Since these loving sincere Christians believe that Jesus wants them to "carry" their cross, they allow certain situations to operate in their life that Jesus would never approve of.

For example, many loving wives believe that their husband is the cross they must bear. So they tolerate infidelity, neglect, and all kinds of emotional and physical abuse instead of making him accountable for his actions. The same is true with sickness. Jesus did not bear our grief and carry our sorrows… (See Isaiah 53:4) only to give them back to us to carry. If we have to carry our own sicknesses, then Isaiah 53:5 is pointless. While it is true that our life takes us through many trials and troubles, we still have God’s Word to guide us in possessing all that we have inherited through Christ Jesus our Lord.

You see, Jesus does not expect us to carry crosses. He could not carry His own cross. He picked it up and walked with it for a while, but soon fell under the load of it. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha John 19:17. At this point He was carrying it, but we do not know how far. And as they led him away, they laid hands upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him (Simon) they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus John 23:26. Jesus had been beaten so badly, He no longer looked like a person. He had been pushed beyond the limits of human endurance, and was so broken down physically, He gave out. Jesus was divine, but He was also human.

Every person, no matter how strong they are, has a breaking point. There is only so much we can take, and just like anything else that exceeds the limit, it snaps. Jesus carried that cross as far as He could, then He collapsed out there on the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem. And He laid there with that cross on top of Him while the merciless crowd kicked Him, mocked Him, spit on Him and beat Him. They shouted at Him and tried to make Him pick that cross back up, but He couldn’t. So they compelled Simon to carry it.

Jesus allows us to witness Him at His weakest points so that we will know that He fully understands what we are going through. He let’s us know that we are not the only one who gets burdened down to the ground. We are not the only one who has such a load on us that it takes us down to the ground. We are not the only one who needs a little help because we cannot make it in our own strength.

When Jesus tells us to bear our cross, He fully knows the situations that cross bearing create. He knows that the yoke is heavy, and that we are not strong enough to make it on our own. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin Hebrews 4:15. In order to be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, Jesus had to experience what it was like to be weak, discouraged and unable to go on without help. Therefore, He is qualified to be our High Priest because He has experienced the pain Himself and will not hesitate to show compassion to our prayers and petitions.

Jesus could have made that cross as light as a feather and floated it up that hill. He could have summoned an angelic host to carry it for Him. He had all the power of divinity at His disposal, but He didn’t use it. We needed to know that the purpose of crosses it to bring you down. We all desire to follow Jesus and obey His command to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. But we must remember that the day will come when that cross will bring us to the end of human strength and endurance. The day will come when we will face sure defeat unless we cry out to Him for help. The day will come when we will confess that without Him we can do nothing (see John 15:5). We will identify with the great Apostle Paul when he said …Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

As long as you are carrying your cross there is nothing to learn. But when the weight of that cross forces you into the dust, then you will confess that it is not by your own might or power, but by God’s Spirit (see Zechariah 4:6). We learn that the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, but to the one who endures to the end.

There are many churches today who have their traditions. They attempt to please God in their own way. Jesus wants them to pick up their cross. He wants to break them down. They need to learn that there is One stronger than they are, One who will come in when they reach the breaking point and cannot go any further. He will lift you over the gap, but you must cry out, "I can’t handle it, I’m tired, I’m broken, I’m weak, help me Lord."

When we confess our insufficiency, He gives us His sufficiency. When we become weak, He magnifies His strength in us. We cannot be weak and strong at the same time. I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong 2 Corinthians 12:10. When troubles and distresses come and we have done all we know how to do, don’t try to carry that load. Go down. The process of becoming weak is the key to walking in the power of God.

Do you have a cross that you are carrying? Do you have a burden that is weighing you down, or a pressure that is stressing out your mind? Your husband is not your cross, but he can become one is he causes you to seek God. If the pressure of all the tricks he’s playing is causing you heartache and you’ve tried many times to talk to him, it’s time to throw up your hands and say, "Jesus, that’s it. I’m going down and I need your help." Then God will step in. He knows the burden is too much for you and you’ve come to an end of yourself. He will reach down and gently lift you up out of that pit.

Your needs will put you on your knees, but your cross will put you on your face in the dust of humility. And the weight will keep you there until you hear God whisper in your heart I have chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty 1 Corinthians 1:27. Many saints want to hear from God, but the lowest they’ve been is on their knees. They need to be broken down.

Jesus doesn’t want us to carry crosses, but He will let us carry it as long as we want to. That’s why He said, "Let him deny himself." He doesn’t mean to deny ourselves the material things that we need to make life comfortable and enjoyable. But deny our ability to carry our cross by our own power. There are many Christians who refuse to smoke, drink or commit fornication. That’s self-denial, not denying self. It’s nice to have good habits, but you still need a cross. If you have not yet learned denying yourself, you may as well get ready for a crisis. You will never produce spiritual fruit without it.

I am not glorifying suffering, but for most of us, there is no other way to become what we need to be in Christ. Nothing that happens in our life is accidental. If you are hurting right now, you may actually be in the process of healing. If you are burdened down under a heavy yoke and you cannot get up, you are in a position for God to show Himself strong on your behalf. It is your opportunity to learn about the Savior in a radically life changing way.