As we exit this time of Easter, I am struck with the idea of Christ’s incarnate humanity. How he is perfectly human and perfectly God.

While approaching his passion and death he went through a stream of human emotions. Christ knew the depth of what he was about to face. He knew his friends would betray and abandon him, leaving him completely alone. He knew he would hold the immense weight of all sin upon his shoulders as he bore all of our wrongdoing upon himself. He knew the physical pain, but he also knew of the spiritual pain (arguably much greater).

In saying all of this Christ, in the garden of Gethsemane, went through all of the emotions that you or I would feel when faced with such opposition. He was tempted in every way just as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

In that garden as in the first, he was tempted but in that garden to mirror the first he did not fail as we did (and as we do daily). He submitted to his Father in heaven, to the ultimate cause of the cross, and with the support of angels, he moved towards his ultimate sacrifice (Luke 22:43).

On the cross, Christ showed us the utmost of humanity. On the cross, Christ showed us the utmost of divinity as well as God’s love, poured out for each one of us.

I don’t know how you feel as you read this today. Do you feel the weight of the world around you;  financial struggles, sin, family issues, or loss? Today, be comforted that Christ is your brother. He knows your pain, but he is also God and can hold all your pain.

He comes to each of us today and says with eyes full of the experience of suffering and pain, yet having overcome it: “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.” Matthew 11:28-30