“The soldiers revived the prisoner and roughly stood Him on His feet. Sweat mingled with blood oozed from around the thorns of rough crown on His head. His face was bruised and bloodied. His bare back was shredded by the lash. Fatigue racked His pain-bent body.”___________________________
by Pastor R. S. Fernando
(April 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It was between eight and nine o'clock on that Friday morning as one Simon of Cyrene approached Jerusalem to participate in the Passover festival. He was caught up in a mob milling around a Roman execution procession where three condemned prisoners bore their own crosses. Taunting, jeering, antagonists surrounded the prisoners close enough to spit on them. Beyond them curious spectators merged with frightful disciples and mournful sympathizers. People watched from doorways and windows, eyes wide and lips closed, as the jostling crowd pushed past their homes.
Suddenly the procession jerked to a halt as one of the heavy crosses clattered to the cobblestones beside the fainting form of the prisoner. Soldiers cursed, the mob jeered, but some along the edge wept.
The soldiers revived the prisoner and roughly stood Him on His feet. Sweat mingled with blood oozed from around the thorns of rough crown on His head. His face was bruised and bloodied. His bare back was shredded by the lash. Fatigue racked His pain-bent body.
Simon trembled. With compassion his gaze was riveted on this prisoner Jesus of Nazareth who healed the sick, cleansed lepers and even raised the dead. The procession again lurched forward. But after only a step or two the clattering cross signalled once more the collapse of Jesus. The soldiers realized that Jesus was too weak from his ordeal to carry the cross any further. The crowd too sensed His weakness. The disciples longed to move to His side to reach out and support Him, but held back by fear and confusion. No one moved, they looked on helplessly.
The soldiers searched everywhere for someone to carry the cross for Jesus. Finally, their eyes stopped at Simon of Cyrene, still standing frozen with horror in the middle of the road before them. Quickly rough hands seized him and pressed Simon into this demeaning service.
Simon knew about Jesus. He had two sons who were His followers. His emotions fluctuated between compassion for Jesus and anger and hatred for the Romans who treated him like a beast of burden. The shame, injustice and humiliation of being forced to carry the cross to Calvary became a source of great joy to him. When all others deserted Jesus, Simon helped Him. Peter denied Him, Judas betrayed Him, John followed — at a distance — all others deserted Him, but Simon of Cyrene carried His cross. What a privilege!
In our daily associations, we meet people whose spirits are bowed to the breaking point by the weight of the crosses they bear — crosses of discouragement, defeat and sin — crosses resulting from loneliness, heartache and overwork. Jesus calls us to lift their crosses and follow Him. Whosoever gives a cup of cold water to these little ones in His name will not lose his reward (see Matt: 10:42). 'In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me’. Natt.25:40.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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