Carrying the Cross

Apr. 4—It was a long, difficult walk through Jerusalem as Jesus carried the cross on which he would be nailed.

He stumbled under the weight of the large wooden cross as townspeople ridiculed and spit on Him along his journey. He cried out as the thorns digging in His head and the nails piercing his hands and feet drained the life from His body.

That pain, that sacrifice, that death and resurrection is the Biblical description of the Christian celebration of Easter.

And every year for the past 12 years, members of Freedom Christian Fellowship carry their crosses through downtown London over the Easter weekend as a reminder of the real meaning of the holiday.

This year the walk included children carrying small crosses and a sign "Jesus Saves" as they walked from the Kroger parking lot on North Main Street through downtown London. Others walked in groups or individually, making the trek along the sidewalks as many motorists honked their horn to show their support.

In a time in which Easter dresses and hats, egg hunts and the Easter Bunny are the focus of the holiday, the church members want to give a reminder of why the holiday is celebrated.

On Easter Sunday, some of the men begin their walk early, carrying a heavy cross in the same manner which Jesus did on the day of his crucifixion. Their route begins at Freedom Christian Fellowship church in the Pittsburg community and continues to KY 192 before turning back and walking back to the church.

"We do this in recognition of what (Jesus) did for us," said one of the church members participating in the walk on Saturday. "Anyone that wants to come and join us is welcome."