The Humanity of Jesus

Aside from saving my eternal soul, the greatest thing Jesus ever did for me is to carry the weight of my shame, my heavy burdens, and my broken heart.

God, with His infinite imagination and glorious plan, sent us Jesus as a testament of true love, through His humanity, to be our example. In came Jesus, who lived His sinless life yet suffered through betrayal, shame and humiliation, being misunderstood, mocked, tortured and murdered. If I were God, I would have taken an easier road, I would have run the other way when the crowd turned on me, I would have used my divine power to strike my enemies down and humble them, and I have no doubt I would have found another way besides the Cross. But I’m not God.

The things Jesus suffered through on His way to the cross are the very things I wrestle with daily. Shame tells me I’m not living up to the expectations the world sets in front of me. I don’t juggle the role of being a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, business owner like the popular woman on social media. My burdens are heavy; the weight of my cares threaten to take me down; I worry for what’s going on in the world, our finances, children being abused and going hungry in our own country, what the landscape will look like in the future for my son. My heart has been broken so many times and the wounds are deep. There isn’t a strong enough band aid to keep it intact.

But Jesus.

My shame. Hebrews 12:2, "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

My heavy burdens. Matthew 11:28-30, “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 I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

My broken heart. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The longer I walk with Jesus, the more comfortable I am in releasing these struggles to Him. This is why He came, why He suffered. When I think no one understands or can comprehend the weight of my life, He does. He endured humanity and overcame it all for us.

JOURNAL:
1. Reflecting on Hebrews 12:2, make an honest list of the things that bring you shame and ask Jesus to tell you His truth.

2. When Jesus offered us to come to Him in Matthew 11:28-30, envision what it would look like to lay your burden down and to take up His yoke. Would it be a face-to-face transaction with Jesus, a physical exchange of handing the burden and maybe receiving a hug from our Savior that results in a rest for your soul?

3. Imagine Jesus cradling your broken heart in His hands. What would He say to you, how would you receive His peace?

I can truthfully say that when I am honest with Jesus about the condition of my heart, He meets me exactly where I am, and I leave the meeting with peace and clarity. I don’t understand why He loves us or why He wants our shame, burdens, and wounds, but I do know that He takes it all without hesitation.

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