Jesus Bore the Weight

What Did Jesus Do?

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross…
John 19.16b-17

One of the signs of a great leader is that he or she never asks a follower to do anything the leader is not prepared to do, which is to say he or she is willing to lead by personal example. Alternatively, we might say that exceptional leaders are those who instruct their disciples to “do as I do,” and not merely “do as I say.” Jesus had advised those who would follow him that it would be necessary for them to bear their own cross (See Matthew 16.24). Now, on the path to Golgotha, Jesus bore the weight of his own cross.

But I believe it would be wrong to characterize Jesus as the “Cross-bearer.” For the Lord also said to his disciples that, prior to shouldering the weight of their cross, they first needed to deny themselves (Again, see Matthew 16). Yes, Jesus bore the weight of his cross, but there was some real self-denial required. Think about it, about who Jesus really is. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Alpha and Omega, the living Word (Logos) who not only was with God in the beginning, but was, is, and forever shall be God. To bear the cross to the place called The Place of a Skull, there to be crucified and die, well that took more self-denial than any of us could ever imagine. And so I believe that, rather than Cross-bearer, we should call Jesus the Self-denier.

Let’s talk about self-denial for a moment. Think about how much self-denial Jesus had to call upon when he was taunted, “IF you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27.40) I know there’s not that much self-denial in me; I would have come right down from the cross and shown those so-and-sos just what the Son of God could do! But Jesus denied himself there on his cross which he had borne, and showed the world what, even to relieve himself from the agony of crucifixion and the pain of death, the Son of God would never do. You see, the Son would never do anything that was not the will of the Father. One simply cannot affirm one’s self and be perfectly obedient to the will of God. Bearing the weight of God’s will is impossible while we are the least bit wrapped up in our self. It took all the Lord’s strength to deny himself and surrender all so that he could take up his cross.

I Surrender All is a very popular hymn. But it makes me uncomfortable. The words turn to gall in my mouth as I think about my bulging closets, two cars in the garage, and overflowing refrigerator and pantry. And that’s just my stuff. I don’t even want to begin to think about my passions and opinions, my likes and dislikes, which I cling to dearly. I suppose I’ve surrendered some, but all? Not even close; which means I’m not ready to bear my own cross. I’m not nearly strong enough to surrender all. I’d only be kidding you, and myself, if I were to pretend that I’m a cross-bearing Christian. But some day…

In truth, I’m not sure anyone can honestly sing to the Father about surrendering all, other than the Son himself. Not to make light, if you’ll excuse the expression, of the cross, but I believe the far greater burden, the heavier weight, Jesus bore, was that of self-denial. That’s why Jesus said that it is first necessary to deny ones’ self before shouldering the cross. Once we’ve borne the weight of denying ourselves, and only then, does our cross become bearable. What did Jesus do? Jesus denied himself, bore the weight, and took up his cross.

“If anyone would come after me…”

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4