The Healing Journey

April 2, 2025

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain…”

Have you ever had the feeling that there could have been a fourth cross on Calvary? Yours? During our pain in this life, it’s so easy to imagine a fourth cross and that you’re hanging on it in your suffering. You’re with Jesus between the two thieves, one who is reviling him relentlessly and the other who shows him pity in his pain. And then, there’s you, consumed by suffering over so many things — the loss of someone you love, hurtful words from another person, very often someone who is supposed to love you — a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend — or a betrayal by someone who said they loved you. Those are the experiences that cut so deeply that we can never forget them, and very often we can never forgive either.

Sometimes it seems all you can do is suffer there with Jesus, until you notice something as you look at him. He’s not concentrating on his pain. He’s concentrating on yours and looking at you with compassion and love. You are suffering together. But your pain is his pain.

And then, there’s only one cross. It’s his. Because he’s carrying yours.
©J Pisani

***