Christians around the world this week are celebrating special Holy Week services as they journey with Jesus in the final hours of His life on earth and victory over death. I find it the most beautiful and sacred time of the year, as Jesus’ death and His resurrection three days later are the pinnacles of our faith. Let’s take a few minutes to reflect on Jesus’ cross and the crosses we bear in this life too.
Think about Jesus’ life. God sent Jesus to this earth to live in human form, so we can relate to Him even more.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. –Hebrews 4:14-15 (NIV)
Jesus experienced what we do, with the exception of sin, because of His divinity. We have someone who understands us and loves us unconditionally, despite our sinful nature. Jesus knows our weaknesses and wants us to hold onto Him to help us through the trials of life.
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God’s plan for Jesus was to die a painful, brutal death, which was death on a cross.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” –1 Peter 2:22-24 (NIV)
If we think about it, without the cross, there would be no resurrection. Jesus willingly suffered a brutal beating and death on the cross to set all of humanity free. What a beautiful sacrifice of obedience to God and great love for each one of us! The terrible events of Jesus on the cross would appear to be one of the worst things, but God allowed it, and from the cross would flow the greatest good ever to come to the world. God uses everything for His good and ours.
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I read something unique, which is only found in Luke’s Gospel, about this next passage.
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)
Our understanding is that Jesus’ cross was probably between 30 and 40 pounds. How fitting that the soldiers allowed someone to help Jesus carry His cross, most likely because He was physically exhausted from the beating. Cyrene was a predominately Jewish-populated city located in Libya, which is in North Africa. Imagine being Simon, probably on his way to the Passover Feast in Jerusalem, and being unexpectedly pulled from the crowd to help carry Jesus’ cross. Notice that the passage says Simon “carried it behind Jesus.” I think that is an important parallel with the crosses in our lives. Jesus is the one carrying the brunt of our crosses as we join behind Him. He is yoked to us in our suffering and has compassion for us.
Luke’s version of the above verse ties in and takes on greater meaning when we read:
Then he [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” –Luke 9:23 (NIV)
Simon was privileged to put these words into action. I have to believe that helping Jesus carry His cross made Simon follow Him both figuratively and spiritually. Simon had to deny whatever his plans for that day were when he was put on the spot to help Jesus carry His cross—the cross that He endured to set you and me free! We, too, need to follow Jesus as we carry our crosses together.
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May you spend some quiet time this Holy Week to reflect upon and walk with Jesus on His road to Calvary, where on that first Easter Sunday, He won the victory over the cross. His love for you is so great that He sacrificed His very life for you!
Be encouraged this week to…
…share your weaknesses in conversation with Jesus.
…thank Jesus for giving His life on the cross for your sins.
…put yourself in Simon’s footsteps, helping Jesus carry the cross.
…take up your crosses daily, following behind Jesus, who carries most of the weight.
REFLECTION:
Whose cross are you helping to carry?
What cross will you allow someone else to help carry with you and Jesus?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? –John 11:25-26 (NIV)
