“The Cross-Bearer”

An entry on Suffering

by Joel Mott
February 7th, 2025

To fellowship in His sufferings is for the brokenhearted, the rugged, bold, yet weak man, the dreamer of sorts, who takes up the ultimate call, down a narrow road which few find, a hopeful, and lost man, heavy laden, but hungry.

Captivated by Him and inspired to become more like Him, the co-sufferer counts the cost, endures the great pain of the death of his inner man.

That is indeed, real suffering. Dying to his flesh. No, real suffering is not solely the act of a wrongdoing against him but rather the denying and ultimate killing of the inner man who manifests in the midst of wrongdoing.

Maybe the pain will end one day or, maybe not. It doesn't make much of a difference because he has counted the cost and made up his mind. No amount of pain will deter him from the joy he is beginning to find.

Though it is suffering, it is fellowship nonetheless. And that is what he is after.

With every step forward, he is discovering the paradoxical reward of death. As he beholds the Son of suffering, the joy of cross-bearing is emerging.

“I get Him! The more I die, the more I really live!” the self denier exclaims.

From this place he finds the fervor to execute the wicked inner man. The flesh that seeks vengeance, who is prideful to the core, who boasts in his own awesomeness, who promotes himself, who is manipulative in nature and belittles others to elevate himself.

He is dying!

The one who lusts in his heart and exploits innocence to feed the craving, who rebels against God and His ways, who barges through doors that only God was supposed to open, who performs for man’s approval to manage insecurity…

That old, ugly man is dying!

The one who always has to prove himself; the one who always has to defend himself.

“Is this suffering? Yes, it is painful. But now it seems, a joy is beginning to overshadow” the cross-bearer observes.

In the depths of a dead, contrite and broken man, here, Resurrection and the Life is taking dominion!