Let me tell you about my Jesus. In fact, exactly 52 years ago, April 23rd, around Easter, I accepted Jesus as my Savior.

He received 39 stripes, because 40 was known to kill a man. They wanted him alive. They pulled handfuls of his beard and hair out, by the roots. They wanted him alive. They kicked, punched, and spit on him for hours. Beat and flogged him, until his whole body was covered in blood. They wanted him alive. They shoved a crown of thorns down on his head so harshly, it stuck in his skin. They wanted him alive. After hours of being beaten, mocked, whipped, flogged, and tortured until his flesh lay open and his organs exposed, they made him walk with his cross. They made him carry it. Can you imagine carrying such a heavy load up a hill, with broken ribs? A rough, heavy piece of wood with splinters digging into fresh wounds. Yet it wasn't even the cross that was heaviest on his body. It was our sins he bore.

They wanted him alive. They wanted him to feel every ounce of pain they could bring. Crucifixion was historically one of the cruelest most tortured deaths a human could face. Hours upon hours of torture. Torture most of us can not mentally think of, because the cruelty isn't normal. It isn't something our minds can comprehend. We celebrate Easter with pastel colors, happy children hunting eggs, and chocolate. Truth is, there was absolutely nothing happy about the day Jesus died. It was cruel, tortuous, bloody, and dark.

He could have stopped all of it. He could have called every angel in heaven to demolish every person standing and shouting, "Crucify Him!" But He didn't.

He felt everything that day. On that cross, he held the rapist and murderers, the sinner and the saint. And though he knew not all would accept him, he said ALL of you are worth it.

He knew he had to carry the cross. He knew the cross you carry in this life, would be heavy, as well. So was His. Still, he had you on his mind as he hung suspended between Heaven and Earth, and all he could think of and wanted to do, was fulfill his promise to provide a way to heaven for you, and that's what he did.

He was nailed to a cross and suffered death on behalf of humanity. His sacrifice, the atonement for sin, bridging the gap between the divine and human realms.

No matter what kind of cross you're carrying today or how heavy it is financially, emotionally, mentally, or physically, He feels every bit of its weight. He knows every tear that falls from your eyes. That cross is weighing you down, and you are about to crumble under its weight. His promise was simply this. He won't make you carry it alone. What kind of king would step down from his throne for this?

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God did. For you.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16 - 17