Read Mark 15:21-22
I’m Willing To Take And Carry the Cross of Christ!
[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”).
Jesus has just gotten done being persecuted in a horrendous manner to the point of not being recognized. He’s lost blood. He’s weak and now he has to carry the cross that he will die on to a place called Golgotha which means the place of the Skull. He’s unable to carry his cross because of the weakness of his body. We read that Simon, who just so happened to be passing by, was forced to carry the cross of Jesus to Golgotha.
I wonder if Simon really knew what was going on. He was carrying the cross of Christ. It’s hard carrying a cross. They’re heavy. The walk was about a mile. It wasn’t a joy ride. It wasn’t a quick jog around the block. It was a hard walk. Carrying the cross of Christ wasn’t easy. And today, it isn’t any easier. Jesus asks us to take up our cross daily and follow him. Where Jesus traveled it was a hard road. He spoke truth. He loved people. He met needs. He loved people. He confronted sin. He loved people. He called for repentance. He loved people. He did miracles. He loved people. He was hated. He loved people. He was attacked. He loved people. No matter what evil came against him for speaking truth, he loved people. And now he’s asking us to take up our cross daily and follow him. He’s asking us to be willing to go through everything that he went through so that others might be saved. May we love people no matter what happens to us for the cause of Christ. Jesus was willing to die so that we might be saved and I pray that we also will be willing to die so others might be saved. Jesus, help me carry your cross no matter what!
