Cross Carrying
We love a winner! We have been taught in so many ways that winning is the only thing that matters. Hence we have all these sports heroes, politicians, even ourselves who will do whatever it takes to win, even if that means we sell our souls. Really, is winning worth whatever it costs? Can we change our attitudes to make winning something that comes from a life and process of integrity rather than to be bought with enhancing drugs, shortcuts. What would it mean to find victory by carrying the cross for Jesus rather than just showing up for the resurrection without any clue of what had happened?
We see in the passion narrative the following: “Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.” Here we have a bystander that is pressed into service by the Roman Guards to serve someone who is about to die. He has children with him and yet he has to leave them as he carries the cross for a beaten and bleeding Jesus. He has little clue who this Jesus is since he comes from Libya and is just in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover on a pilgrimage. Oh he may have heard of him, but the fact remains he was not a follower and he had possibly some small information regarding Jesus based on the events of that week.
Why is it that someone who is not a follower is pressed into this service. Are those who claim to be so distant and uncommitted that they will not remain? Are they so concerned about themselves that they abandon what they claimed were their convictions and faith? Are they so short sighted as to not see that victory will come, but that they must endure difficulty to get there?
Simon becomes a Christ follower and his sons evangelists. Imagine how their first experience must have formed their views and passion for the one who died that they might live abundantly. These are not people who saw Jesus initially at the height of his ministry, or even traveled with him for a period of years, but that initial interaction forged in them a powerful way of being followers.
Imagine three days later when the tomb is empty and the women interact with Jesus and do not recognize him because they did not see New Life. Perhaps Simon of Cyrene was better able to see the possibility because he did not have the stake in the old way of thinking. He was not a fatalist, but rather a pragmatist who saw Jesus for who he said he was rather than what he could get out of him. His relationship was bound by the tragedy and miracle of crucifixion and resurrection. He did not see with tainted eyes, but eyes that were both compassionate and expectant – albeit at different times.
This week many Christians celebrated Easter. Resurrection though comes in many ways. The only question I have for you is: Must Jesus bear the cross alone? Will you be the new Simon of Cyrene proclaiming hope and new life to those around you?
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
We see in the passion narrative the following: “Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.” Here we have a bystander that is pressed into service by the Roman Guards to serve someone who is about to die. He has children with him and yet he has to leave them as he carries the cross for a beaten and bleeding Jesus. He has little clue who this Jesus is since he comes from Libya and is just in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover on a pilgrimage. Oh he may have heard of him, but the fact remains he was not a follower and he had possibly some small information regarding Jesus based on the events of that week.
Why is it that someone who is not a follower is pressed into this service. Are those who claim to be so distant and uncommitted that they will not remain? Are they so concerned about themselves that they abandon what they claimed were their convictions and faith? Are they so short sighted as to not see that victory will come, but that they must endure difficulty to get there?
Simon becomes a Christ follower and his sons evangelists. Imagine how their first experience must have formed their views and passion for the one who died that they might live abundantly. These are not people who saw Jesus initially at the height of his ministry, or even traveled with him for a period of years, but that initial interaction forged in them a powerful way of being followers.
Imagine three days later when the tomb is empty and the women interact with Jesus and do not recognize him because they did not see New Life. Perhaps Simon of Cyrene was better able to see the possibility because he did not have the stake in the old way of thinking. He was not a fatalist, but rather a pragmatist who saw Jesus for who he said he was rather than what he could get out of him. His relationship was bound by the tragedy and miracle of crucifixion and resurrection. He did not see with tainted eyes, but eyes that were both compassionate and expectant – albeit at different times.
This week many Christians celebrated Easter. Resurrection though comes in many ways. The only question I have for you is: Must Jesus bear the cross alone? Will you be the new Simon of Cyrene proclaiming hope and new life to those around you?
Blessings,
Pastor Greg
Labels: Resurrection, Sacrifice, Service
posted by Covenant of the Cross at
10:20 AM
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