The Hunchback of Merchantville Elementary School
Friday, March 1, 2024
“Your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you must cheerfully accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand complaining.” – C.H. Spurgeon
When I was in 8th grade, our gym teacher decided to see how many people in our class could meet the requirements for the President’s Physical Fitness Award. Some of the events included push-ups, sit-ups, and chin-ups. Others involved running a certain distance within a certain amount of time.
I passed all of the requirements listed above, but then came the hardest one of all. We were told to walk twice around the quarter-mile track – which sounds easy – but carrying someone on our back.
In 8th grade, I stood about 5’2” tall and weighed less than 100 pounds. The problem was that the next smallest person in our class was four inches taller and at least 30 pounds heavier. Determined to earn the award, I pressed on, carrying more than my own bodyweight for half a mile… and then I collapsed from exhaustion, feeling like Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Thankfully, the cross that Jesus asks us to carry is handcrafted for us. It is not too big nor is it too heavy. In fact, it fits just right, just like Charles Spurgeon says below…
“Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to His easy yoke. Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in pride, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it that like Moses you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt. Remember that Jesus carried it; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble.”
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (ASV)
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
