Bearing the Burden

Sometimes I forget about all that the cross represents. It represents death, resurrection, sin, forgiveness, old life and new life....eternal life. In order for me to have such a precious gift, someone had to bear the weight of my sin and sacrifice for it. It is humbling to just write it. I don't deserve it, none of us do.

I started really thinking about all of this when I was reading in Numbers 11:10-17.

Num 11:10-17 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. ~11 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? ~12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? ~13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. ~14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. ~15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. ~16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. ~17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

Moses was suffering under the weight of the sin (lusts) of the Nation of Israel and he could not bear it all. The LORD told him to gather 70 elders and they would stand with him to bear the burden. God allowed Moses to share the burden of a million people with 70 other men.

In Mark 14:31 Jesus starts to feel the burden of what the Father has asked him to do and prays 3 times, for this cup to pass by him if it is possible, but God's will be done. His answer was different than that of Moses's. He was left to bear the burdens alone....and not just for a million people, but all of the weight of all of the sins of all of the people who were, are and are to come.

Sometimes I don't think I can bear the weight of just my own sins??? Jesus took on all past, present and future sins while hanging on the cross supported only by nails securing his hands and feet to the wood. No wonder he "gave up the ghost" more quickly than the two thieves on either side of him. He didn't die from the weight of his own body handing on the cross, he died from the suffocation of our sins.