The Burden of the Cross
Author- Ayo Awe-Joseph
Season Greetings!
As we mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ each year, we must not lose sight of its essence.
It is important to note that Easter is not merely a season of festivity—it is a solemn reminder of the “burden of the cross”.
“Christ did not die and was resurrected in 2026”;
His sacrifice took place over 2,000 years ago, and today He is seated at the right hand of the Father, fulfilling His eternal purpose.
The burden of the cross calls us beyond celebration into sober reflection. It is a memorial of love, sacrifice, and obedience for which we must emulate.
What’s Next After Easter?
Matthew 16:24 Jesus said: “ If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
The cross on which Jesus was crucified is symbolic and must be personalised by each one of us.
It represents the daily surrender required of every believer. To carry the cross is to embrace death to self, crucifying our flesh so that the life of God may emerge within us.
Death to Self: The True Burden
The burden of the cross is the call to die daily. It means laying aside our personal ambitions, preferences, and desires, and asking instead: “Lord, what would You have me do?”
John 12:24 - “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”.
God's intent for sending Christ to die is so that through the death of Christ, we will be absorbed back into the presence of God, after a new life is formed in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, who raised Christ from the dead.
This is the essence of Easter—the burden of the cross is transformation, not tradition.
Living the Burden Daily
If Easter leaves us unchanged, then it has become nothing more than merriment.
But when we carry the burden of the cross daily, it leads to TRANSFORMATION.
Easter annually, must become a reminder of God’s expectations: that our lives should reflect His will, not our own.
The burden of the cross is not seasonal—it is lifelong. It is the deliberate surrender of the flesh, the will, and the ego so that Christ’s life may be revealed in us.
Conclusion
The burden of the cross is the believer’s path to glory. Jesus bore it for our eternal acceptance before the Father, and now we must bear it daily so that His life may shine through us.
Romans 8:11 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Easter is not about merrymaking—it is about embracing the burden of the cross, which is the transformation of the body. Galatians 5:19
If this message has stirred your heart, then don’t let it end here. Kindly share it with someone and leave a comment.
Stay ignited!