Jesus came to the world as a missionary, to deliver and to save mankind from
damnation, arising from Adamic sin. By the time God concluded that man’s situation
was hopeless it was quite clear that there was no way he could measure up to the
standards He had set for him, Gen. 6:5-6. Every effort God made subsequently, such
as the elevation of Noah with the same mandate as He had given to Adam, did not
achieve the expected results, Gen. 9:1-4.
Sin persisted.
Because God created man out of the purest love ever He never abandoned him. To
bring humans back to Himself He instituted the 10 commandments in the hope that
they would obey them. They never did, at least not in full, Ex. 20:1-17. The Prophetic
Ministry did not lead to full repentance either. Rather, sin flourished from generation
to generation, Luke 11:47-50, Acts 7:52-53. Eventually God decided to send His only
begotten son, “the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person…”
Hebrews 1:3, to deliver and return man to Him.
Thus, at the beginning of His Ministry Jesus unfolded His Mission Plan thus.
This spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath
sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to
the blind and to set at liberty them that are bruised. To
preach the acceptable year of the Lord, Lk. 4:18-19.
The burden was heavy but it was not beyond Jesus. He was willing, able and ready to
bear it at enormous cost. It was certainly well beyond human capacity. Such was the
commitment of Father and Son, arising from their unparalled love and compassion for
humankind, that, even before the foundation of the world, they had both agreed that
should man fail to live up to his responsibilities, post creation, (Gen. 1:26-27, Gen.
2:15-17) Jesus would come to the rescue as the sacrificial lamb, Rev. 13:8.
It was one thing to be entrusted with dominion it was an entirely different thing to live
up to it. Adam failed God and, by implication, the entire human race allowed satan to
undermine the divine project, with all its unprecedented goodwill, Gen. 3:1-6, Rom.
3:23.
Jesus had to come. There was no other way John 14:6.
His Ministry
During His ministry Jesus manifested as the bearer of the burden of others. It was
typical of Him to say to everyone who cares to listen.
“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest…” Matt. 11:28.
The person who loads men with burdens is satan, the evil one, but Jesus says, come
with that unbearable load, I will take them off you. However you will have to accept
my own yoke too but it is lighter than the one tied on your back by the oppressor,
Matt. 11:29-30
If the burden is ill-health of any kind Jesus will destroy its power. It does not matter to
Him that the disease is leprosy, the compassion in Him would make touch and heal the
victim, Matt. 8:1-3. Death did not scare Him. He exercised supreme authority over it
causing it and the satanic power behind it to flee, Luke 7:11-17, John 11:32-44. Jesus
must have caused a stir when the people of Bethany saw his friend, Lazarus, who had
been in the grave 4 days, sitting with Him, a few days after, sharing a meal together
with his sister, Martha, John 12:1-2.
Indeed if you have a challenge, which is beyond human effort, go to him and He is
there for you. The woman with the Issue of Blood for 12 years sought help from Him
and promptly received it. Jesus took over her burden as she was healed instantly, Mark
5:25-34.
With superior authority Jesus drove out demons from their human habitations, making
them plead for mercy, Mark 1:23-27; Mark 5:1-20
He is truly the burden bearer.
His Personal Sacrifice
But the greatest thing He did, for the entire human race, was His self sacrifice,
knowing well in advance, the suffering and shame that awaited Him, and taking with
Him our sins and our ailments, leaving them on the Cross of Calvary, I Pet. 2:21-25.
But even now in heaven He is still carrying our burden, playing the advocate, I John
2:1.
Like Jesus you too must be a burden bearer
1. You must intercede for
(a) those facing one challenge or the other
(b) for the church in the face of attacks by its enemies
(c) for those who are sick or distressed
2. Give to those in need and for the cause of the Gospel. You will not regret doing
so, not on account of the reward, which is sure (Lk 6:38, Mark 10:29-30) but
because you can never pay back for the saving Grace from which you and I
benefit everyday.
