The Lord taught us:
“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
I have often heard religious elders use these words to justify suffering.
If we are to follow Jesus…
We are to suffer.
But think about the cross that Jesus carried.
Who condemned Him to the cross?
Who demanded His death on the cross?
Religious authorities.
Government officials.
The crowd.
The cross was not the burden Jesus placed upon others.
It was the burden the world placed upon Him.
“By the Steps of Jesus Christ” from Now That My Eyes Can See (Acoustic Album) — streaming and download:
Apple Music · Spotify · YouTube Music · Amazon Music
Lyrics:
By the Steps of Jesus Christ
E, D, A, C
Don’t cry my brothers
Don’t cry my sisters
Proclaim the good news
Pray in your whisper
Darkness consumes it all
But it can’t consume the light
So, you can check yourself
Empty tomb you're going to find
C, D, E
And don’t get discouraged or lose your hope
We all make mistakes sometimes
Learn all your lessons and grow in faith
By the steps of Jesus Christ
C, D, C, D, C, D, E
For our sins He paid the price
With the selfless sacrifice
On the cross He gave His life
For us to know
E, D, A, C
Rejoice my sisters
Rejoice my brothers
For steadfast loves that
Comes from our Father
Yes, sometimes it gets rough
Tribulations part of plan
So, will you grow in faith?
Because He knows that you can
C, D, E
So don’t get discouraged or lose your hope
We all make mistakes sometimes
Learn all your lessons and grow in faith
By the steps of Jesus Christ
C, D, C, D, C, D, E
For our sins He paid the price
With the selfless sacrifice
On the cross He gave His life
For us to know
But Jesus also taught:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…”
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus does not call the weary…
To become more weary.
He calls us to rest.
He does not place a heavy burden upon our shoulders.
He teaches us to walk with Him.
So, in whose steps will you follow?
Those who place burdens upon your shoulders…
That they themselves are unwilling to carry?
Or will you walk…
By the steps of Jesus Christ?
Whose yoke is easy.
Whose burden is light.