Good morning church and happy Saturday. I hope that you had a great week and that you can share one thing that God taught you this week. If not, please allow me to encourage you to read God’s Word, be in prayer, seek to be led by the Spirit, and look for ways that God is at work in your life and the world around you.
As I was reading the other day, I came across the man known as Simon the Cyrene. In case you aren’t aware of it, he is mentioned in all three of the synoptic Gospels. Likely, you have heard of him before. He is the one that the Bible mentions carried the cross part of the way for Jesus. In some circles, he is legendary. He is pictured as an example of selfless service. The question becomes, “Is that really an accurate portrayal?” Take a moment and read the following passages.
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the Jews. (Matthew 27)
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the Jews. (Mark 15)
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. (Luke 23)
Virtually every English translation says that they “forced” or “compelled” Simon to carry the cross in Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21. In Luke, the phrase “made him” expresses the same idea.
Throughout church history, people have somehow rendered this passage to make Simon of Cyrene out to be a great guy that had compassion on Jesus and stepped in during His time of need. The Catholic Church even depicts him in their stations of the cross. There is speculation in church history as to what happened to Simon. Was he or did he become a believer in Jesus Christ? What about his sons that are mentioned by name. Were Alexander and Rufus cited because they became well-known believers in the first century? Is Alexander the same person as mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament? Please let me know when you figure that out.
What I do want to focus on this morning is the idea of serving Jesus and bearing the cross. Several times in the New Testament, Jesus taught His followers that they were to take up the cross.
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their lifewill lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (Matthew 16)
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their lifewill lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. (Mark 8)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. (Luke 9)
27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14)
I guess we should seek to discover what it means to “take up” or to “carry” the cross. I can assure you that it implies more than simply putting up with a minor inconvenience, dealing with a difficult person, or wearing a necklace with a cross on it. I do want to point out that in every one of the verses cited above you will see the phrase, “and follow me.”
So, here is a question that each of us should consider: why are you serving Jesus? Are you doing so out of your love and obedience to Him? Is the Holy Spirit guiding you to serve in a similar manner to the example of Jesus? Or, are you serving because someone else is forcing or compelling you? I do know this, if that is why you are serving than you will never be fulfilled or happy for that matter. Sometimes people serve out of guilt. Other times it is peer pressure. Perhaps, we even think that since it is an expectation, I am going to do it whether I want to or not, whether I like it or not. But is that really the manner in which we should serve the One that came and died for our sins? The One that demonstrated the perfect love of God to us and on our behalf. Do we truly love Jesus for Who He is and the incredible sacrifice He made on our behalf? Do we really need to be “forced” or “compelled” to live our lives for Him?
In Matthew 20:28, we get a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. The Bible tells us, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I know this is some serious stuff to think about on a Saturday morning. However, it is important for each of us to consider these things.
May the Lord bless and guide you as you seek to know Him even more.
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
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