Read Luke 23:26-31
I Can Carry My Own Cross.
As the soldiers led Jesus away, they had him carry his cross to Golgotha. This is the place where he would be crucified. Apparently, from all the persecution he received, he was too weak to carry his own cross. So the soldiers grabbed the man by the name of Simon from Cyrene, northern Africa. He carried the cross of Jesus behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Jesus, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them not to weep for him but for the eminent judgment that is forthcoming upon Jerusalem. Basically he was saying it will be sad for mothers with children to experience this forthcoming horrific suffering/judgment.
Jesus chose to suffer a death of great persecution and pain. He was to carry his cross and was unable to, so Simon from Cyrene carried it for him.
As followers of Christ we are all called to carry our cross daily. We are called to be willing to suffer for Jesus and make sacrifices for him. We are to be willing to go and be and do whatever he calls us. This may require giving up things of this world that are destructive for us. It may also mean giving up the luxuries of life in order to carry out God’s call on our lives. If we struggle in this area, we may need to have someone come alongside us and help us carry our cross by being a role model or an encouragement.
To think of Jesus’s crucifixion, is to be greatly in awe of what he allowed himself to go through for us. But Jesus looked beyond his death and on to those who are without a relationship with him. A judgment is forthcoming for all who are not following Jesus. That’s what is really concerning. People need Jesus. So God, use me to be able to share Jesus with those who are walking without him, so they can, not only escape the judgment that awaits them, but also experience a genuine love relationship with God himself.
