Pain

To feel that we have been let down by our family or close friends is a very bitter experience. The hurt and the anger can be so strong that we are left scarred and broken. Of course we can be the guilty party and cause great pain when we let other people down.

When Jesus chose the twelve disciples to be His close companions, during the three years of His public ministry, who would have thought that in His hour of need one turned out to be a traitor, one denied that he ever knew Him and the others deserted Him and ran away. In Pilate’s judgement hall He stood isolated and alone and when they led Him away to crucify Him He was left to carry His cross with not a single companion in sight

It’s easy to understand something of what Jesus was going through. Betrayal, denial and desertion are bitter experiences and can often leave a permanent imprint on our hearts and minds. The cross was like a shadow across Jesus' life from the very beginning and grew darker and more threatening as time passed.

No wonder Jesus said, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.' (Matthew 16:24)