Good Morning
And he bearing his cross went forth into . . . Golgotha. John 19:17
When the two single beams were lifted from the Lord’s bleeding shoulders and laid on those of the sturdy Cyrenian, Simon became what none ever had been, or ever would be, in all the history of the Lord’s Passion–he became for a brief space the substitute of Jesus! Simon came into Jerusalem that morning, from the village home where he had been a guest, unconscious of the tragedy enacted there during the night, and was soon caught in the throng accompanying Jesus to Calvary. Through the dense excited mass of life this heavily-built countryman forced his insistent body until he came to the edge of the procession. From this vantage point he could peer in and get sight of Jesus–could catch the weariness of His face. Was it the merest accident that Simon was taken into the heart of the tragedy? The guard looked round and saw Simon –his prominence and bulk–perhaps an unconscious sympathy growing on his face–and before Simon knew what had happened he had been dragged out from among the people and the cross was on his shoulders, and he was walking beside Jesus to Calvary.
O good fortune of the Cyrenian to have a stout body–to be born a countryman–to carry a kindly heart! It had won him an honor denied to kings and conquerors.
And none so favored as this Cyrenian, for they journeyed together within an iron wall–no man could interrupt or annoy–neither priest nor people, they were so close together that the cross seemed to be on them both. That Jesus spoke to Simon as He did to few in all His ministry, there can be little doubt, since no one could render Jesus the slightest service without being instantly repaid, and this man had succored Him in His dire extremity. What Jesus said to His substitute Simon never told. But on thing is certain in the heart of the tragedy on the way to Calvary, Simon meet Jesus, And with what kindness Jesus must have spoken to His cross-bearer as they went forward together under one cross-one common disgrace! Alone wit the Redeemer one gathers precious treasure!
For a short while this man carried the load of wood. In return, Jesus carried his sin, and that of his children after him, for by the time this Gospel was given unto the world Simon was know as the head of a distinguished Christian house–a man honored in his sons, Alexander and Rufus.
Nothing save–a few drops of blood on the ground remained of the great tragedy as Simon journeyed homeward that evening; but, in the meantime, Jesus had accomplished the deliverance of the world–and Simon, the Cyrenian, had carried the Lord’s cross!What a privilege!
Taken from the throng to carry another’s cross–Via Dolorosa with Jesus! John Watson
Everyone who met Jesus didn’t go away from that meeting the same.
The blind could see,
the dumb could speak,
lepers were healed,
mothers had their sons returned unto them,
the rich young ruler went away sorrowing,
children felt love and acceptance,
mothers realized the importance their role in their children’s lives,
Peter learned about denial and forgiveness,
Judas learned of betrayal and despair.
A Roman soldier acknowledged, ‘Truly this was the Son of God. ‘
All were changed.
Simon, how could he not become a different person , meeting Jesus on the road to the cross.
No wonder, on the day of Pentecost, as Peter preached of Jesus, all the pieces of Jesus ministry fell into place in the hearts and minds of men and women. The seed planted by John the Baptist, the sermons and parables spoken by Jesus, the watering by the miracles and the blood of the sacrifice bore fruit, about three thousand souls.
Trust God for your day, ….Today
With my prayers; desiring yours, Leslie
Thoughts of Grace 