Laying it on Jesus' Shoulders

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Luke 15:1-7

As I read this passage of scripture, the phrase: “…he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” would not leave my mind. I began to reflect upon the image. When we think of shoulders, we often think of broad strong shoulders that are supportive. We use the phrase, “a shoulder to cry on” indicating that the person is able and willing to hear our heartfelt burdens and pains. We talk about putting our “shoulder to the plow” meaning that we get behind something and push or work hard. We refer to the sides of the road as shoulders. These shoulders help us to stay on the path, if we stray onto them; we know we are not going in the correct direction.

When we think of shoulders, we also must not forget the shoulders of Jesus Christ. I have seen the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ several times. I am always struck by the scenes in which Jesus is forced to put his cross upon his shoulders and drag it through the streets. I know that that burden was done not on his behalf, but for me. He carried the cross and he died on the cross for my sins and the sins of the entire world.

So, when I read this passage and the words “…he lays it on his shoulders…” jump out at me, they do so, because I envision Jesus picking my sins up and putting them on his shoulders as he walked the Via Dolorosa on the way to Calvary. Yet, my thoughts don’t stop with just that phrase. Look at the next two words, “…and rejoices.” He didn’t do it out of drudgery, he did it rejoicing knowing that his death would bring about forgiveness for me.

Have you put your burdens on the shoulders of Jesus? Have you let him carry away your sins?