As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26 NLT)
Head wounds bleed - a lot. The combined agony of all those lashes, the beating and that cruel crown are too much for Jesus. His bruised and battered body can no longer bear the full weight of that cruel cross. Seeing the prisoner falter the soldiers grab an innocent bystander and force him to bear the burden. For the remainder of this death-march the cross is carried by a man named Simon visiting from Cyrene in North Africa. On that original journey up to Calvary Simon was given no choice. But when it comes to bearing our own cross - our Lord invites us to join Him in that journey. The choice is ours.
PRAY: Jesus you call me to carry my own cross and then you help me do it. I’m amazed by your grace and humbled by your love. And whenever I meet a person of color remind me that they too were included with the entire world in that fateful journey to cross. May my love for you and others include everyone of every nation, tribe and tongue - just like yours includes me. In Jesus name. Amen.
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