Amos was a shepherd (Amos 7:14). Yet, God gave Amos (whose name means “burden bearer”) a very heavy load to carry. Although he was from Judah, God told him to go to Israel, point out their evil ways and warn them of their coming destruction. No one likes to be criticized. No one likes to hear bad news. Too many people want to shoot the messenger. As he preached to the people, Amos was viewed as an outsider who was sticking his nose into business where it did not belong. The people did not like him. They did not appreciate his message. They told him to go back home (Amos 7:12).

God loved the people of Israel, but He would not tolerate their evil ways. He had blessed their country with great prosperity. They were living an indulgent lifestyle and basking in the lap of luxury. Yet, they oppressed the poor (Amos 5:12). Their merchants fixed prices and cheated their customers (Amos 8:5). Their worship was empty and insincere (Amos 5:21-24). God was not going to put up with it anymore (Amos 8:1-2). They had ignored God’s previous warnings (Amos 4:7-11). Now Amos had the burden of telling them of God’s approaching destruction (Amos 7:17).

Like Amos, Jesus was also a shepherd (John 10:11). Jesus also came a great distance, from heaven to earth (John 6:38; 8:14). He also carried a great burden. Like Amos, Jesus had the burden of showing people their sins (Matt. 23:13-36). He too was rejected (Mark 8:31, Luke 4:24-30).

Yet, Jesus carried an even greater burden. He carried the sins of the world. Concerning Jesus, Isaiah prophesied, “He bore the sin of many” (Is. 53:12). St. Peter also wrote of Jesus, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Pet. 2:24). Jesus carried the burden of our sins to the cross. We don’t have to carry the burden of guilt for the sins in our past. We don’t have to carry the burden of fear concerning the possible sins of our future. Jesus has taken away all our sins—along with all their guilt and fear.

If Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to take the burden of our sins to Calvary, we can rest assured that He will be with us to carry our other burdens as well (Rom. 8:32, 1 Pet. 5:7). Jesus not only died for you, but since the first Easter, He also lives for you—to be with you to uphold you, to support you and yes, even to carry you through difficult times.

What is burdening you today? What trials are pressing on your mind? What concerns give you a heavy heart? Give them all over to Jesus and He will carry them for you. He calls out to you today, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Jesus is our “Amos”—our burden-bearer. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Ps 68:19).

Prayer: Dear Jesus, my burdens are so great. I cannot carry them alone. Today I hand them all over to You. Take away the all the sins and the fears that press so heavily against my heart. Amen.

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Updated: Thursday February 21, 2008