The Cross is Laid on Simon of Cyrene
Luke 23:26
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Reading (You are encouraged to read this kneeling at the cross)
Jesus did eventually stumble. Most likely, there were several times when the cross was too much for him. Slipping and falling many times, the centurions perhaps had finally had enough of this weak man who couldn’t bear the weight of his own crime. They grabbed a man from the crowd to carry it for him, and poor Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the bloody cross up the hill.
So often the cross implicates us. It sheds light on our sin, and shows us our part in His death. But poor Simon: he didn’t even know it at the time, but he was the one person in history to truly feel the weight of his own sin in that cross. We hear exhortations to carry our cross, and to feel the burden that Jesus did, but Simon was thrust under that heavy load.
Did Simon realize the immensity of the moment? Did he understand that what he was carrying represented everything dark the world had to offer? Did he catch a glimpse in that moment of what would occur in the next few days? When the blood of Jesus ran onto his garments, did he feel the power that was held there?
Jesus did eventually stumble. Most likely, there were several times when the cross was too much for him. Slipping and falling many times, the centurions perhaps had finally had enough of this weak man who couldn’t bear the weight of his own crime. They grabbed a man from the crowd to carry it for him, and poor Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the bloody cross up the hill.
So often the cross implicates us. It sheds light on our sin, and shows us our part in His death. But poor Simon: he didn’t even know it at the time, but he was the one person in history to truly feel the weight of his own sin in that cross. We hear exhortations to carry our cross, and to feel the burden that Jesus did, but Simon was thrust under that heavy load.
Did Simon realize the immensity of the moment? Did he understand that what he was carrying represented everything dark the world had to offer? Did he catch a glimpse in that moment of what would occur in the next few days? When the blood of Jesus ran onto his garments, did he feel the power that was held there?
Journal
Respond with your thoughts and prayers at this point in the journey
Respond with your thoughts and prayers at this point in the journey