Simon didn’t plan on being part of the story.
He was part of the crowd in town for the holiday. Maybe he knew about Jesus, maybe not. But he was going about his business and I’m sure he didn’t want to get involved with the horrible scene in the street. The Romans had beaten the man nearly beyond recognition, onlookers either cheered for more or cried for mercy. And now…
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 23:26)
An obscure man from the crowd was picked to carry the most important chunk of timber in history.
# # #
Our small group talked about Simon this week. Our study took us here:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:2-25)
Simon was given a cross, so he picked it up and followed Jesus through the streets, all the way to Galgotha.
It’s important to notice, though, that Simon stopped at that point. His job was done. He’d carried his cross as far as he could, done all that was asked.
He couldn’t take Jesus’ place. He wasn’t God. Neither am I. Neither are you.
We’re asked to carry our cross, not to save the world.
We can’t do everything, but we can do something. And that something may not be easy or comfortable. Hopefully it won’t involve lugging a splintery hunk of wood down a street behind a bloody Jesus while people spit at you. But it might.
It might even involve riding a bike or getting involved with the FREEDOM TOUR in some other way to support some kids you’ll never meet who need a new life.
You and I are asked to do what we can, where we are, with what we have. No more. No less.
HT to Debbie Eaton for the study that prompted these reflections.)
Please leave a comment here.
