JESUS’ BURDENS DURING THE CRUCIFIXION

Victor M. Eskew

 

            When we experience struggles, problems, and difficulties, we will often tell others:  “I have a lot of burdens on me.”  These are not physical burdens.  They are emotional burdens that lay heavily upon one’s mind.  Interestingly, they can cause our physical bodies to grow weak.  These emotional difficulties often make it hard to put one foot in front of another.

            Jesus knows what it is like to experience a pile of emotional trials.  There were many that came upon Him on the night of His betrayal and on the day of His crucifixion.  The first thing that was placed upon the shoulder of Jesus was betrayal by a friend.  “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, the same is he; hold him fast.  And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?  Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him" (Matt. 27:47-50).  What a tragic event!  One whom Jesus chose and deeply loved, betrayed Him into the hands of his enemies.  And the price was a mere thirty pieces of silver. 

            As the mob led Jesus away, another painful occurrence happened.  The other eleven disciples fled from the scene.  Mark writes:  “And they all forsook him, and fled” (Mark 14:50).  Jesus stood alone at that time in the torch-lit garden.  Not one of His followers remained close by his side.  Not one was willing to be with Him as He was taken to the palace of the high priest.

            Matthew tells us that “…Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end” (Matt. 26:58).  Surely, this was a good thing.  But, it proved only to be another heartache that Jesus had to suffer.  Three times Peter was confronted about being a disciple of the Christ.  And, three times, he boldly denied the claim.  Yes, three times, Peter proclaimed:  “I know not the man” (Matt. 27:70, 72, 74).  Jesus was in close proximity to Peter when this happened.  In Luke 22:61, we are told:  “And the Lord, turned, and looked upon Peter…”  Even though Jesus had predicted Peter’s denial, it did not lessen the pain Jesus experienced.  Peter was the one apostle who had boldly affirmed that he would never be offended (Matt. 26:33).   

            Still another hardship Jesus faced was being condemned knowing He was innocent.  Jesus had never violated the Law of Moses.  Jesus had never committed a crime against the Roman Empire.  All He has done was to speak the truth and perform a multitude of good works.  Even so, the sentence of death was spoken against Him.  “And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified:  and the voices of them and of the chief priest prevailed.  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required” (Luke 23:23-24).  Have you ever been accused of an evil you did not commit?  Have you ever experienced punishment for something you did not do?  Do you remember the anguish of that experience?  Multiply that many times over and you will have some understanding of agony Jesus experienced when He heard those words that would bring about His death.

            Another burden Jesus felt was the constant blasphemy of His enemies.  It was constantly said:  “If thou be the Son of God…”  Too, the Jews told the authorities:  “He claims to be a king.”  Jesus was the Son of God.  Jesus was a King.  Yet, they questioned who He was and ridiculed Him even while He hung on the cross.  “And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others, let him save himself, if he be the Christ, the chosen of God” (Luke 23:35).  “And the soldiers also mocked him…” (Luke 23:36).  “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him…” (Luke 23:39).  It is never enjoyable to have other making fun of you.  Even if you know their claims are false, their scoffing and evil speaking still pierces the heart.

            Yet, another strain put upon Jesus involved His mother.  Mary was loyal to her Son.  She was at the crucifixion.  She stood near the foot of the cross watching her son writhe in pain and anguish.  That could not have been easy for Jesus to bear.  We do know that at some point, He committed the care of His mother to his apostle John (See John 19:26-27). 

            Yes, burden after burden was placed upon Jesus Thursday night and Friday.  Note, this was in addition to the physical afflictions Jesus bore in His body.  As we watch our Lord, we see strength.   We see patience.  We see courage.  We see faithfulness.  How as this possible?  The answer goes back to the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane.  When Jesus entered in that place, He did something very important.  He prayed and resigned His will to the will of His Father in heaven.  In fact, He did so three times (Mark 14:32-36).  They key words of His supplication were “nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.”  Whatever came upon Him during those next several hours, He would endure knowing that God’s will was being done.  He arose from the dust of the ground with renewed faith, strength, and determination.  The heavy burdens of that night and following day would not overcome Him. 

            Dear readers, we must do exactly what Jesus did.  We, too, have our problems, challenges, and enemies that we face.  They make life hard.  They burden us with weights that sometime seem unmovable.  What is our recourse?  Prayer!  When we do this, we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  When we do this, we also, adhere to the divine counsel of the apostle Paul.  In Philippians 4:6-7, he exhorts us, saying:  “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  If you are burdened, pray!  If you are having difficulty making it through each day, pray!  If you think you are near the point of giving up, pray.  God can and will strengthen you.  He will grant you tranquility deep within your soul.  Yes, the counsel of four little words is essential:  “Give it to God!”