You Have Not WeariedYourselves for Me

When we think about one who wearies himself or herself for

another, we may consider a devoted mother who suffers

sleepless nights nursing her very sick child into health, or a

father who takes on two full-time jobs to make ends meet for his poor

family, or a soldier who carries his wounded friend from the certain

dangers of the frontline to relative safety.

Such acts of being wearied for others are highly commendable and

speak of sacrifice and self-giving love. The greatest and most perfect

model of this is Jesus Himself.

Previously God had spoken to His ungrateful, sinful people: “But

you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your

offences” (Isaiah 43:24). Think of these divine words and bring them to bear upon thescene of the stumbling figure of the Son of God as He carried His cross

to the place of execution (John 19:17).His body was bruised and torn by the cruel whips of the Romansoldiers, and could hardly bear the weight of the roughly-cut cross.

But He was not just carrying the cross-beam, but the infinitely heavier

weight of the sins of the whole world. It was an unimaginable burden

that threatened to crush His soul.Perhaps there were voices within the Burden-Bearer. Why do you need to go through this? Do you want to do this for those who

have beaten you to a pulp? Why carry the burden of these terrible

sinners and hypocrites who have made fun of you? Is this worth going

through? – these people are your enemies (cf. Romans 5:10)!

The Saviour would have resolved to push on, step by step, no

matter how weary He felt and how often He stumbled. It was His

infinite love for His miserable and sinful creatures, who had callously

placed all their burdens on Him and wearied Him with each painful

step, that carried Him forward to His death. Every fibre in His body

would have screamed for relief, yet He pressed on with undying love.

Step by step, the Burden-Bearer went on to accomplish the greatest act

of love in human history.

It was the same God who, having shown His deep disappointment

with disloyal Israel wearying Him with the burden of their sins,

declared, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my

own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25).

Reflection: Take time to reflect on the scene of Jesus carrying the cross to

Calvary. Make it a personal experience by listening to Him telling

you, “You have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with

your offences” (Isaiah 43:24). Speak to Him as you follow His

bloodied footsteps.