THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

We have often heard the phrase "The weight of the world".  He looks so tired.  He's been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

If only he knew.  If only he understood that someone had already carried that weight for him.  As Easter rapidly approaches most of us Christians are joyful.  Celebrating the gift Jesus gave us.  The gift of life, of salvation.  We know that he was born of a virgin from the line of David.  We know he was a great teacher and healer, that he shook up the idea of what God expected of us a bit, that he loved and was an example of how we are supposed to love.  We know that he was the son of God in the flesh feeling and facing all the joys, sorrows and temptations that we feel.  And we know that he was tortured and crucified.  That he died for our sins, he paid our penalty so that we could live.  We know that he was placed in the tomb and rose from the dead.  

But how often do we take the time to REALLY reflect on all that he did for us?  In a sense we get to be like an old married couple who say I love you regularly every morning and bedtime, every coming and going.  Of course we mean it but it sort of loses that passion we felt when it was first said to us or when we first felt and said it.  It becomes routine missed when it wasn't said or we will never get to hear it again but not give n much thought when it is said.  Many of our holidays become much the same, celebrated yet the reason forgotten or at least brushed aside for more "important" things at that moment such as what should we fix for Easter dinner?  Will our New Easter clothes look nice?  Should I get my hair cut before Easter Sunday?  If you REALLY think about it, we've sort of lost the real passionate feelings and thoughts that SHOULD be going through our heads.  Our children know that the Easter Bunny will rise up from amongst all the little neighborhood bunnies they see every morning and hide delicious candy in eggs for us to find but do they understand the symbolism behind those delicious gifts?  Do they understand that the Easter Bunny and his "magic" would not, could not exist if Jesus didn't endure, keeping it tame for young ears, the horrible bullying and pain he faced to the point where he gave us the ULTIMATE gift- His life for our sins.  Do they understand that put in a more simple way, that if they tried to imagine the worst trouble they had ever been in then imagine their best friend stepping in and saying Punish me instead?

More so do we adults take the time to reflect exactly what this particular holiday is truly about?  We hear it in church, we recite it like we do other citations which while meaningful we have allowed to become mundane habit.  Do you stop and imagine the kind of love it took...the unimaginable love our Lord had to feel for YOU to endure that inhumane, violent (well beyond anything we would normally be allowed to see on regular tv) beatings.  The cruel words spat at him that go far beyond any "ism" or prejudicial cruelty any of us endure in our modern times.  Or our hurt and pain that we question if we will be able to survive.

I challenge you to take some time this season to stop and really reflect on the detail of what Jesus did for you.  Try and take in every tear you ever cried, every broken heart (or shattered heart) you ever felt of caused another to feel.  Every physical ailment or pain imposed on us by another.  And all remorse you ever felt for the pain you caused another whether they knew it or not, whether you actually ACTED on it or not and whether it was intentional or not.  Now try and imagine and add to this what the person sitting next to you and next to them might be thinking as well.  Can you possibly add the similar feelings and actions of every single person who ever walked or will walk this beautiful planet we live on to your pain?  Probably not...but Jesus endured every bit of that and then took responsibility for it ALL.  He took our punishment.  Because he loves us that much.  It will likely cause you to be in a less celebratory mood huh?  But I promise you this, it will certainly give new or renewed passion for the celebration.  God Bless you and yours....and Happy Easter.