was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to
carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha
(which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered Him wine
mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. (Mark 15: 21-23)
Jesus has begun the journey to Jerusalem, carrying His own cross,
but He was weakened from the flogging He had received from the
Roman soldiers. Simon from Cyrene was on the road traveling to
Jerusalem possibly to celebrate Passover with all the other Jews.
Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time when the soldiers
picked him to carry Jesus’ cross? Or was he the man God had chosen
to carry out this segment of the crucifixion story? It seemed only
fitting that someone comes to His aid. No one will ever know the real
answer.
How often have you been in very heavy traffic on a major highway,
with the traffic moving at a snail’s pace, only to say “Why me?” All of
a sudden the traffic clears and you see someone along the road in
need of assistance, which you can easily give. I am sure Simon had
the same feeling, “Why me?” and yet he carried the cross for Jesus
because he could do it. When they arrived at Golgotha, Jesus was in
a frail state so the soldiers offered Him a mixture of wine and myrrh
to deaden the pain and allow Him to temporarily suffer less. Jesus
refused this drink so that He could not avoid any of the pain and
agony that He must suffer. He knew that part of the unfolding of
God’s story was the pain that He must endure.
Let’s remember to think of Simon when we are presented with a task
we may wish to avoid. Is it part of God’s plan? Or perhaps it is
something that we can do.
Tom Secules
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