https://www.bible.com/events/49231419
Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
The Untold Jesus Stories- Carrying the Cross
Simon carried your cross, and mine.
Today we conclude our teaching series called “The Untold Jesus Stories.”
Throughout this series we will have been looking into stories that are not literally “untold,” but some of the lesser known or lesser understood accounts that we find in the gospels.
This series has simply focused on some stories that perhaps we haven’t paused to consider very often before.
Paul wrote to Timothy with the instruction: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Our “untold” or lesser-known story today is found in Luke 23:23-27
Luke 23:23-27
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Jesus, so weary from the beating he has received that he cannot continue to bear the weight of his cross. The Roman guards needing to get this show on the road, grab Simon and demand that he carries the cross for Jesus.
Simon came to the Passover with his family to remember when God delivered the Children of Israel from the death grip of the Egyptian empire and their bondage there. But the story Simon found himself thrust into was different.
This was a new kind of redemption, a new kind of deliverance. This is the story of Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world.
Here’s the question: What does Simon the Cyrene have to do with you? With me?
Luke 23:1-6
Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.
By the time Simon enters the story, Jesus has already been tried and sentenced to death.
The Jewish leaders didn’t have the authority to put Jesus to death, they would need to enlist the help of their otherwise hated enemy- The Romans.
After facing a mock trial before Herod, Jesus appears again before Pilate and his accusers.
Luke 23:13-24
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand.
The guilty gone free, and the innocent condemned to death. That’s the story of Jesus. That’s our story.
And it’s this story that Simon of Cyrene is thrust into.
Luke 23:26
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
We don’t know a lot about Simon even though his story appears in 3 of the 4 gospel accounts.
By Cyrene, it means that he’s from an area of Northern Africa known by that name.
The gospel of Mark records that he is father to Alexander and Rufus, and he has come to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover Festival.
Simon disappears from the story as the crucifixion continues. Jesus is crucified between two criminals.
I think it’s safe to say, this procession, this moment specifically never faded from Simons memory.
In a very real sense, in the days ahead the parade that Simon of Cyrene witnessed will pass before us. No one will force you into the story like the soldiers did to Simon. No, we must choose to get into the story.
We must choose to take up our cross and follow after Christ
Jesus never hid the true cost of discipleship. To join Christ, is to die to ourselves. To surrender our hearts, our desires, our attitudes to him. It is giving Jesus all authority in our lives. And unlike Simon of Cyrene- nobody will ever force you to bear that cross.
You must accept the call of Christ. You have to choose to follow after him. It’s the only way that truly leads to life.
The cross the Simon carried, was my cross, and it was yours. Jesus bore the penalty of sin for you and for me. Now he calls us, to bear our cross. Not that we literally die for our sins, no, that work has been done. But we are invited to lay down our right to ourselves, our self sovereignty, essentially all that we are- lay that down and follow Christ.
That’s the call.
Will you join Simon in bearing your cross, following after Jesus?
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