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As the sun rose on that Wednesday morning, the Lamb of God, torn and bloodied from the scourging, was led through the streets of Jerusalem. John 19:17 says, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” The weight of the rough, splintered beam pressed against His shredded shoulders. The path He walked was narrow and cruel, lined with jeering crowds and hardened soldiers. It was a journey of suffering—but also of love. Every agonizing step Jesus took was bringing Him closer to the place of our redemption.

The cross He carried wasn’t just wood—it was a symbol of the world’s sin. It represented the lies, lust, pride, hatred, and rebellion of every soul who ever lived. And Jesus bore it—not only physically, but spiritually. Isaiah 53:6 says, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Though weakened and collapsing under the weight, He did not turn back. Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry the beam part of the way, but the journey—every drop of blood, every gasp for breath—belonged to Christ. The Via Dolorosa, the Way of Suffering, led not just to Golgotha, but to glory.

As He walked to Calvary, Jesus fulfilled the words He had spoken to His disciples: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). This was not only His path—it is the path of every true follower. The cross is not a symbol of comfort, but of surrender. Christ bore His cross so we could be forgiven, and now He calls us to bear ours in devotion, obedience, and love. We are not called to pay for sin—that work is finished. But we are called to die to self and live for Him who died for us.

Today, walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary. Feel the weight of His sacrifice, the burden He bore for you. Let it strip away complacency, pride, and sin. Let it stir your heart to worship and renew your commitment to follow Him—wherever He leads. The way of the cross is hard, but it ends in victory. Jesus bore His cross to save you. Will you now carry yours to honor Him?