He Carried the Cross So You Wouldn’t Have to Carry Your Sin
What is known as Good Friday to many is the day, many years ago, when Jesus went to the cross—with you in mind.
Before His death, He was beaten unmercifully, mocked, and spit on—yet He could have called down angels to stop it all. But He didn’t.
He stayed.
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”
— Matthew 26:53 (KJV)
The Roman soldiers nearly beat the skin off His body. Afterward, He was made to carry His cross—which could have weighed between 200–300 pounds—through the streets of Jerusalem. As He walked, people continued to mock Him and spit on Him. He carried that cross for roughly two thousand feet to a place called Golgotha, also known as the “Place of the Skull.” There, they nailed His hands and feet to the cross.
Knowing full well the suffering that awaited Him—suffering beyond what we can imagine—He still yielded His authority and endured it all, with you in mind.
“Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
— John 19:11 (KJV)
He chose death and agony so that your sins could be washed clean—to present you without spot before God, as a faithful servant .
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
— Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
Whatever sinful ways you once had, He has cleansed them. He was determined for your name to be written in the Book of Life.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
When He died on the cross and declared, “It is finished,” He made sure your name was secured. One day, when you enter the Kingdom of the Lord, He will say, “Well done, my faithful servant.”
It’s hard to imagine—after everything He’s done for us—that He would say that to us. But that’s the wonder of His grace. He doesn’t welcome us because we were perfect, but because we were faithful. Because we believed. Because we received the gift He died to give us. And that’s all He ever asked.
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
— Revelation 20:15 (KJV)
Reflection Questions:
- What does it mean to you that Jesus endured the cross with you in mind?
- Are there areas in your life you’ve struggled to believe are truly forgiven?
- How can you live in a way that honors the price Jesus paid for your redemption?
Prayer:
In Jesus name I come before You,
Lord, thank You for staying. Thank You for enduring every lash, every insult, and the weight of the cross—all for me. Thank You for not giving up, even when You could have. I believe You died to cleanse me from all unrighteousness and that my name is written in the Book of Life. Help me walk in that truth daily, and live as a vessel worthy of Your sacrifice.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. —Matthew 25:23 (KJV)
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press
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