Carrying A Heavy Load Series

CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD

by

Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid

(February 17, 2020)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46: 1, King James Version [KJV]).

Greetings In The Holy Name Of Jesus Yahshuah,

My sisters and brothers, in Christ Jesus, I know how tremendously burdensome life is when you find yourself weighed down by the cares of the world. Many times the overwhelmingly proceed-with-caution or be-careful sensation is not as satisfying to your spirit as you hoped it could be and the walls of deceit build up around you threatening your very purpose, in the one body of Christ Jesus. Let me tell you, in the Psalm of King David, he did let us know he felt that feeling of uncertainty and dismay towards the way of the people. He said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”[Psalm 46: 1, KJV]. Jesus carried the heavy load of sins to the cross. Jesus felt the deceit and hypocrisy among his kin.

With that said, Jesus dealt with the disbelief of his estranged family. The very depth of his soul felt the pain yet he continuously protected mankind. We found Jesus asking his father God in heaven to let the cup pass from him [Matthew 26:39, KJV, “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”]. We found Jesus praying on the cross pleading in a greatly praised resolve to God, Father they know not what they do [Luke 23: 34, KJV, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”]. This outrageously heavy load of sins that Jesus carried were the souls off man that the redemptive power still leads on, overwhelmingly so [Psalm 69: 1-2, 18, KJV, “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me...Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.”].

Most importantly, the weight of the heavy load of sins was immeasurably spiteful when he dealt with his family, on Earth, for those who witnessed, saw the denial and hatred that came out of the Jews towards Jesus because they obviously did not think the time was right for the Son of man to deliver the souls of man out of bondage, for the wages of sin is death. [Romans 6: 23, KJV, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”]. Could it rather be that in dealing with his family and Pilate, he felt he needed help, for he said, My servants, if they were here, then you could not treat me this way because they would not let you? [John 18: 36, KJV, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”]. Jesus felt he needed help to deal with such ill-mannered harsh feelings coming out of his kin towards him so much so that sentenced him to death when he spoke to Pilate. Remember the holy scripture, in the gospel readings exemplified his resolve when he spoke, in common sense teaching them still, not to escalate his punishment, to no avail [John 18: 22-23, KJV, “And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?”]. Do you remember in the 40 days of fasting when Satan tried to take Jesus away from God [Matthew 4: 8-9, KJV, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”] Satan also wanted to take Jesus’ inheritance from him with lies and deceit when he tried to convince Jesus that he had everything?[1 Peter 5: 8, KJV, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”].

More importantly, the approach of Satan was when he thought Jesus was too weak to hold on. How is it, in fasting and prayers that the weakness of the body betrays you only for you to stand in the refuge and strength of God? Jesus did that. Yes, Jesus was still standing and made it through the visitation of the devil. He did not faint in temptation but we all must know he felt the heavy load of the sins of man and the hatred of Satan. According to Matthew, Satan tempted Jesus [4: 1-11, KJV]: