People today, the vast majority of people, carry around suitcases full of sin, full of worry, full of doubts, full of sorrow. Let us be encouraged and inspired to take those burdens to Calvary and put them on the shoulders of Jesus Christ. Consider John Moore’s song, “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary.”
The song basically focuses on one aspect of life: pain in your heart. “Days are filled with sorrow and care, hearts are lonely and drear. …Cast your care on Jesus today, leave your worry and fear… Troubled soul, the Savior can see every heartache and tear: Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.” As I meditated on this song this week, I decided to go back to the cross and ask myself, “Why / How does Jesus lift our burdens at Calvary?” Meditate with me on that theme…
BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY BECAUSE JESUS RECEIVED GOD’S WRATH FOR US:
Let us go to Matthew’s account for this concept (chapter 27). First, we have to understand that God’s nature is holy, which means He is separate from sin and God cannot be tainted with sin. Thus, a spiritual law, a law that is true because of God’s nature, is that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The “payment” for sin is death, eternal separation from God. So, how can man, who sins, be in the presence of God who is repulsed by sin? Jesus receives the wrath of God for us. Jesus is repulsed by God’s nature in our place (27:45-46).
The apostle Paul will tell us in Romans 6 that our burden of feeling the wrath of God is lifted at Calvary when we are united with the death of Christ in baptism (6:3-4).
BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY BECAUSE FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE THERE:
Here, we go to Luke’s account (chapter 23). From the time Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God has required the death of animals in order for man to understand the price of sin is high. Adam and Eve had to wear animal skins the rest of their lives, perhaps as a daily reminder that their disobedience caused the death of that innocent animal.
On the cross, the ultimate sacrifice from God brings forgiveness of sins…
Forgiveness of the tormenters (23:33-34).
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Forgiveness of the thief (23:39-43).
We do not go to the thief on the cross to learn what to do to be saved from our sins. But we can go to the thief on the cross to learn that forgiveness of sins is available. The burden of our sins can be lifted at Calvary, just like the thief’s. If we will obey Jesus Christ, He will tell us, too: “When you die, you will be with Me in Paradise.”
BURDENS ARE LIFTED AT CALVARY BECAUSE JESUS SEES YOU WHERE YOU ARE:
For this point, we will go to the last Gospel account, the Gospel of John (chapter 19). We have already seen from Luke’s account that despite the fact that Jesus was in incredible pain and embarrassment and even feeling the effects of God’s rejection, Jesus is still thinking about others. In Luke’s account, Jesus shows concern for his tormentors and for the thief on the cross.
Here in John’s account, Jesus shows concern for both John, His beloved disciple, and His mother (19:25-27). Through the pain. Through the sweat. Through the blood. Through the humiliation. Even though He was on the cross, Jesus did not stop being a son. He did not stop being a friend. “Troubled soul, the Savior can see. Every heartache and tear.”
If that were the whole story, there would not be much hope in Calvary. It would be the story of a good man who died unjustly. But that’s not the whole story. All four Gospel writers have to record the resurrection of Christ for so many reasons, but for our purposes, the resurrection of Christ is significant because it means that burdens are still lifted at Calvary, even today.
Let’s conclude by reading from Hebrews 7:25: “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” That’s why burdens are lifted at Calvary, even today! Because He “always lives” to make intercession for us!
“Cast your care on Jesus today. Leave your worry and fear. Burdens are lifted at Calvary. Jesus is very near.”
–Paul Holland