In His Shoes

 Imagine standing in a crowd. People passing you by. One after another bumping and shoving as they pass you. All alone. No one has an ounce of remorse in their heart. Everyone who passes hates you. Now you are naked and cold. Imagine the shame to be seen by so many people, like this.

 The cold air touching your skin sends chills down your spine. More people arrive. They start to hit you, and you feel a stinging pain in your head. The cool of the blood running down your face, reassuring that you are still alive. The pain transfers itself from one part of your body to the next. Your arms are bruised, and your legs are sore; to hold your own weight is now a chore. The blood accumulates more and more. You start to feel dizzy and disoriented. How much more can the body take? 

They spit in your face. You close your eyes but are unable to wipe the spit away. You are made to carry something 3 times your weight. The muscles are fatigued and straining just to stand. You are made to walk, with each step, more painful than the last. Your legs feel like they weigh a ton, and your arms are working overtime to carry this weight. You try to embrace the pain, but it keeps piling up so much that you fall. The hatred is still surrounding you. It drowns out your own thoughts and all you can hear is the mockery of people, the blame they put on you. They curse you; each word is like a dagger to your innocent heart. One man helps you carry this weight as you continue walking. You see death staring you in the face. Your heart is racing, your mind is trying to help you survive and your head is spinning from the dehydration. You are so thirsty, and your mouth is so dry that your tongue feels rough and scratchy. You are unable to clear your dry throat because of exhaustion.

You reach the top of this inclined dirty path. Your body is covered in dirt. The sweat and blood have formed a paste like residue on your skin. Shoes are torn and shredded. Blood is steadily dripping from all over your body. Each drop, hitting the sand. One drop, two drops, bursting as it hits the ground. Your mind is too tired to think a complete thought.

 You are offered something to drink. The thought excites you, all nerves become alert. To be able to have something wet in your mouth and throat. Just one drop of something cool is encouragement to the mind. Your lips rest on the cup, you feel the hot breath echo within the cup and as soon as the liquid touches your tongue all of your nerves scream. The taste is bitter and awful. You use all the new excited energy to spit the drink out, poisoned. Your throat seems even dryer than it was before. They all just laugh to watch how your false hope was violated. Still, you carry on as you are allowed to finally release the weight you have been carried for miles now. The pain of your shoulder is throbbing, and your back is sending sharp pain down to your feet. The pain is unbearable, but you feel a sweet release to release the weight only for a second. 

Your limp weak body is dragged and moved as they place you on a cold rough surface. It feels nice for a second for someone else to lift your arms and your legs for you. As soon as your mind is comforted by this thought you feel something cold on your wrist. Your mind is trying to comfort you. A sharp pain consumes your entire body. Now the other wrist and the ankles. Bang! Bang! The pain is exploding with every hit. Bang! Bang! You want to scream but between the exhaustion and your dry throat nothing comes out. Bang! Bang! You try to feel numb, to stop feeling would be better than the pain; but your body is unable to shut the pain out. Bang.! Bang! The speed is picking up and your body is now in hyper-mode. Every nerve is sending signals to your brain to make it stop. Bang! Bang! It continues. Bang! Bang! Faster. Bang! Bang.! Stop! Bang! Bang! You cry out to God not for help, but that they will be forgiven. Bang! Bang! Bang! The noise stops. All of your body's resources have been put to the ultimate test. 

You are lifted into the air. The dizziness is increased now, and the pain of your muscles and skin rip towards the ground. You feel a shift and lose your focus. Vision is blurry from the blood and sweat running down your face. Your arms are stretched out wide pulling on the shoulders making it feel like your body is being ripped apart. You are stuck. Isolated, trapped, unable to reposition yourself. Every breath is work. You have to push up on your body to inhale. As you feel your lungs expand there is a deep side pain. With every exhale there is a sharper pain. Breath in, Breath Out. Slowly. Again you hear your breath pass your lips once more. With your last breath you say," It is finished." As your eyes close, in and out of consciousness, you are at peace. With your last breath, you have redeemed us all. 

We are not that strong, determined, fearless or loving; no one is, except Jesus Christ. He went through dying on the cross much like the one described above. He felt embarrassed, pained, humiliated, tricked. To have a Savior who can sympathize with our suffering matters. Jesus has been where you are right now. He knows what it feels like to be the only one. Where no one else understands you, He understands you. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, " For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need." 

I hope this encourages you to understand the crucifixion of Jesus better, and to realize that you are never alone. You were on His mind when He endured the pain, and you are on His mind now. Embrace the love that was bought by His blood for us. Look to give Him honor in all that we do. We can never pay Him back for what was so freely given to us, but we can strive to know Him.

 If I was to give my life for someone and endure torture for them, I would like to know who they are. Wouldn't you?

Wrote by Hannah Austin

2/12/25 @ 11:45 am