03/31/2024
He received 39 stripes because 40 was known to kill a man.
They wanted him alive.
They grabbed handfuls of his beard and hair and pulled it out by the roots.
They wanted him alive.
They kicked, punched, tortured and spit on him for hours.
Until there wasn't a single spot on his body not covered in blood.
They still wanted him alive.
They shoved a crown of thorns down on his head so hard it drove deep into his skin.
They wanted him alive.
After hours of being beaten, mocked, whipped, flogged, and tortured, they made him walk with a heavy cross. They made him carry it.
A rough piece of wood with splinters digging into fresh wounds.
Again they wanted him alive.
They wanted him to feel every ounce of pain they could possibly give.
He had to feel all of it in order to heal us.
Crucifixion was historically one of the cruelest most torturous deaths a human being could face.
Hours upon hours of extreme torture. Torture most of us can not even mentally comprehend because the cruelty is so extreme.
It isn't something our minds can possibly fathom.
We celebrate Easter with pastel colors, happy children hunting eggs, and chocolate bunnies.
Truth is there was absolutely nothing happy about the day Jesus died. It was cruel, bloody, and vile.
He could have stopped all of it.
He could have called every angel in heaven to demolish every person standing and shouting "Crucify Him!" But He didn't.
He loved and forgave them.
He knew in order to have a Sunday you have to have a Friday.
He knew in order to have true joy you have to carry your cross.
He felt everything that day.
He felt how your heart broke into pieces when you had to watch your baby die.
He felt how heavy your life was when you were staring down the barrel of a gun wanting to end it all.
He felt the shame and guilt of that addiction taking over your life.
He felt the abuse you endured by someone you thought loved you.
He was there through that divorce when you felt alone.
He even carried the weight of the heavy burden you have felt since your spouse died and life just seems empty since.
On that cross he loved the outcasts, the murderers, the sinners and the saints.
He leveled every playing field and said ALL of you are worth it.
He knew he had to carry and endure the cross so we could be set free.
He never promised the cross you carry in this life would not be heavy. His wasn't.
His promise is that Sunday is coming. Redemption is coming.
No matter how heavy Friday is. Financially, emotionally, mentally, or physically.
Friday is so heavy.
That cross is weighing you down and you are about to crumble under its weight.
His promise was simply this.
He would never make you carry it alone.
He would walk with you every single step.
What kind of king would step down from his throne in Heaven for this?
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God would. And did. For you.
He did all of it for you and me.
Oh yes it is beyond heavy.
So heavy sometimes you do not think you can take even one more step.
But smile, and look up, because Sunday is coming.
*Copy & pasted. Author Unknown
