The Weight Jesus Carried: A CrossFit Moment That Reminded Me Why Easter Still Changes Everything

Photo by Morrow Solutions on Unsplash

He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!

Easter Sunday is here, and while many people are focused on baskets and bunnies, we remember what Easter is truly about—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This past week at CrossFit, we had an optional finisher workout called The Carry. It was created in partnership with a national CrossFit brand and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

The Carry involves taking a weighted barbell and walking with it for 600 meters, symbolizing the distance Jesus carried His cross.

I’ve often said that conversations about God are baked into our culture—you just have to know where to look. Or at least keep your eyes (and sometimes your ears) open.

Take Saturday, for example.

On Saturdays at CrossFit, we do "teamers"—partner workouts with lots of reps shared between you and your teammate. While we were grinding through reps this weekend, the gym playlist included modern renditions of Jesus Paid It All and a few other traditional hymns.

As we walked to the car afterward, my wife said, “Isn’t it amazing that in a gym full of people—some believers, some not—on Easter weekend, Jesus' name was honored and we worshiped while we worked out?”

Now back to The Carry…

As I set out with 75 pounds on my back, I thought, This isn’t too bad. For the first 200 meters, anyway.

The weight wasn’t the problem. But just over halfway through, I tried to adjust my grip and the bar’s position on my shoulders. My wife, who had finished ahead of me, walked beside me. As we talked, I shifted my hands—and pain shot through my wrist.

My shoulders twisted awkwardly and started to burn.

And I thought: I can only imagine what Jesus felt like while carrying the cross. His burden wasn’t just physical. He wasn’t just tired. He was losing blood. He wore a crown of thorns. He had no one voluntarily walking beside Him—just people spitting, shoving, mocking, beating Him.

At one point, as I struggled, my wife said something simple but profound:

If you can transfer the weight to me, I’ll hold it while you adjust.

I couldn’t figure out how to shift it without dropping it onto the street. I wondered if she could even carry it. And if she could—how would I get it back?

That moment reminded me of Psalm 55:22: 
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

And of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:
 “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

The power of Easter isn't found in the cross, the tomb, or even the crown of thorns. It’s found in the One who carried the weight of our sin so that we could be forgiven. So that we could rise to new life.

So this Easter—don’t stop at the cross. Don’t stop at the tomb. Don’t stop at the resurrection. Let’s live as witnesses, empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave. Let’s rise into new life. Into His strength.

Friday was good because Sunday was coming. And our trials are bearable because eternity is here. Jesus has overcome it all. He is alive!

He is Risen. He is Risen, Indeed.
 And thank God—He carried my sin to the cross… because that barbell was heavy enough.

Anyway, I was just thinking…