Prophetic Word 2024 - Day 29: We don’t carry our cross alone.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."“

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After Jesus was delivered over to be crucified, He began the walk to Golgotha. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke indicate that they conscripted the services of a man from Cyrene to carry the cross for Jesus.

“And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.“

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭21‬-‭22‬, ‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

However, the Gospel of John indicates that Jesus carried His own cross.

“They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.“

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The logical assumption is that Jesus, having been beaten badly, began the walk to Golgotha carrying the cross, but could not continue carrying it all the way.

 Now, when we talk about the cross of Christ, and the fact that He had to carry it alone, we are not talking about the physical cross on which He was hung. Rather, as we have made note, His cross represents His obedience to the Father, even unto death.

Yesterday we discussed that each one who would follow after Christ, must carry their own cross. And, the cross we carry, is also obedience to our Heavenly Father.

For Jesus, His dying on the cross completed His mission as the perfect Lamb of God. Yes, His death brought atonement for our sins.

As mentioned yesterday, our cross carrying is an ongoing task. Jesus instructed that taking up our cross is not a one time exercise.

“And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.“

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Daily, we face situations, people, spiritual warfare, etc., that can cause us to drop our cross, to falter in our following after Christ.

The best news ever—in terms of our daily cross carrying—is that the Lord has provided Help for us.

In His last teachings to the disciples, Jesus gave them hope that they wouldn’t be going it alone.

“”If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.“

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Yes! The Lord was sending back help. Indeed, the Holy Spirit of God would come to be a forever Helper.

Jesus also shared with the disciples that although they could not now handle all that He wanted to say to them, they would be able to bear it when the Spirit came to them.

”"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.“

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Now, this Helper the Lord was sending back to His disciples, was not just for them, but all who would come to follow after Him!

In our opening scripture the Lord is inviting all who are carrying a heavy load to come to Him and take on His yoke. This “yoke”is indeed the Holy Spirit of God Who connects us to Jesus Himself. As such, we can be sure that Jesus—by way of the Holy Spirit—is helping us to bear our cross. Indeed, none of us need bear our cross alone.

We’ll talk further about all this tomorrow.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#resolveforhim