HE CARRIED IT!

HE CARRIED IT!

John 19:16-18

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

          Nothing is harder to bear than the apparent aimlessness of suffering! F. B. Meyer once commented that an ancient punishment for prisoners was to demand they carry stones from one side of the prison yard to the other. When they were done they were then commanded to carry the stones back again. So the daily grind wears upon us!

          Actually, we are not always certain that aimless suffering has no purpose. We do not always see the reason but God knows! Perhaps it is just the heat that is needed to remove the dross or impurities from the metal of ourselves. We do not easily release hatred, bitterness, and sin. Sometimes the suffering we see as aimless has the aim of purification.

          If ever anyone suffered innocently, it was Jesus. Anytime you think that your particular sin is “no big deal” just look at the horrible spectacle of Calvary. There the pure Lamb of God took your sin upon Himself and carried them to the cross. There He paid YOUR debt. His suffering was not aimless or without purpose.

Col 2:14

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Lord, let the difficulties I am carrying produce purity in me. Strip away all that is not pleasing to you. AMEN