My Cross to Bear (Luke 23:26-47)
Journey with Jesus to the Cross (Good Friday, April 15)
Read Luke 23:26-47
Had he ever heard of Jesus of Nazareth? Probably not. He was just one among a thousand curious onlookers as the death march went by. When Jesus stumbled, he was “seized” by a soldier and forced to carry his cross.
How did Simon feel about carrying that cross? No doubt, it must have seemed grossly unfair. Why should he be expected to carry a criminal’s cross? But when a Roman soldier grabbed your shoulder, you didn’t ask questions. You just did it. You didn't have to like it.
The cross-beam which he likely carried weighed about 100 pounds. Simon would have borne it to the top of Golgotha, the very place where Jesus was crucified. Perhaps he lingered at the scene.
If he did, he would have heard Jesus say, in words recorded only in Luke’s gospel, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” What kind of man forgives those who kill and mock him?, he may have thought.
He would have seen the inscription, “The King of the Jews.” Did this man really claim to be the King of the Jews?
He would have heard the thief declare Jesus’ innocence and ask to be remembered in his kingdom. Kingdom? What kind of kingdom is it that involves death on a cross?
He would have felt the midday darkness and heard Jesus exclaim as he died, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” What is going on here? It’s as if the heavens themselves were groaning at the death of this man!
We don’t know what Simon did that day. But we have a pretty good idea of what happened to him later: Simon became a follower of Jesus. This is why his name was recorded in Luke's gospel. He was an eyewitness source for the crucifixion account.
Mark’s gospel is even more descriptive, noting that Simon was “the father of Alexander and Rufus” (Mark 15:21). This indicates that, almost certainly, these men were well known in the church at the time Mark’s gospel was written.
Imagine that! Simon the Cyrene a follower of Jesus! How Simon’s perspective must have changed once he became a disciple of Jesus.
What would it be like to know that you once had the privilege of carrying Jesus' cross? To know that he who bore your sins had once relied on you to bear his burden? No doubt, Simon was grateful for the privilege. Whereas once he had considered it a heavy burden; now he regarded it as a huge blessing.
A lot of Christians can relate to Simon. At first, when Jesus asks us to carry our cross and follow him, we balk at the unreasonableness of the demand. But once we get a look – a good, long look – at the cross Jesus bore for us, everything changes. Bearing our cross is not an unfair imposition at all; it is a glorious privilege.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all