On his way to the market, a man spotted his neighbor carrying a sack of
potatoes. He pulled his wagon to a stop and offered him a ride. The man
accepted and climbed onto the back of the wagon. After some distance, the
neighbor noticed the man was still shouldering the heavy load and said, “John,
why don’t you put that sack down and take a rest.” John replied, “Oh no, I
couldn’t impose on you like that. You were kind enough to offer me a ride. I
don’t need to burden you with my problem.”
How many of us walk around carrying heavy burdens? The gunnysack of guilt.
The bag of bereavement. Totes of tattered lives. Flagons of failure. With so
much weighing us down, how could we possibly ask Jesus to carry our burdens. I
mean, He gave so much for us on the cross? A battered body. Betrayed friends.
Lied about. Clothes ripped from him. A father who forsook him. And to add
insult to injury, they buried him in a borrowed tomb.
We don’t have to bear the weight of our problems alone. We have someone who
is willing not only to give us a ride along life’s road, but offered to
shoulder the load for us. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Mat. 11:28. Peter offers, “Casting all
your care upon him; for he, (Jesus) careth for you.” 1Pet. 5:7. The choice is
ours. Do we carry our sack, or do we allow Jesus to lighten the load?
Louis Edwards
The Emmaus Walk
