The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
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.
Today’s reading is only one verse, but it contains an enormous message—when Jesus came to the end of his strength, there was someone there to carry his cross for him.
As Jesus faltered under the load of the cross, Simon of Cyrene
was given the supreme honour of carrying it for him.
From the story of Simon of Cyrene we are reminded that there are limits to what we can bear, but when we reach those limits God will send someone to help. David was the great hero who had killed Goliath, but there was a giant David couldn’t kill. When Ishbi-benob, the brother of Goliath, was about to kill David because the king had grown weary in battle, Abishai came
to David’s rescue and slew the giant. Elijah was the mighty man of God who called down fire from heaven and prevailed in his contest with the four hundred prophets of Baal. But when the prophet fled from Jezebel and was depressed, curled up in a fetal position under a broom tree praying to die, God arranged for Elisha to become his companion and to share his prophetic mantle. And when Jesus Christ the Son of God reached his limit and could carry his cross no more, there was Simon of Cyrene to carry it for him.
Some days we can slay Goliath with a slingshot, some days we can’t. Some days we can call down fire from heaven, some days we’re curled up under the broom tree. Some days we can handle anything, some days it’s all too much. That’s when we need someone to help us. There was a giant David couldn’t kill, so Abishai did it for him. There was a trial Elijah couldn’t handle, so Elisha was given to him. And there was a cross Jesus couldn’t
carry, but Simon of Cyrene was there to carry it for him.
This is the beauty of the body of Christ and why the church is so necessary.
Christianity is not a solo project; we can’t go it alone. David couldn’t do it by himself. Elijah couldn’t do it by himself. Even Jesus couldn’t do it by himself. And you can’t do it by yourself.
Some days we have the honour of being Simon of Cyrene and helping a brother or sister carry their cross when it has become too much for them. On other days we are the ones in need of a Simon of Cyrene. Whether we are helping or being helped, it’s all the grace of God.
Reliction question.
Reflect on a time when you have needed the help of someone to carry a burden.
And when have you been asked to help carry a burden for someone? Thank God for both those moments.



Musci: Dear Gravity, Salt Of The Sound - Nearer to Thee. 

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