Coming in from the country
So says St. Mark
And this is perhaps a good place
For us to make our start.
Father of Alexander
And also the father of Rufus,
He had a close up view
Of the crucified Jesus.
As a matter of fact
He did more than just look,
He also assisted Jesus
It’s recorded in the Book.
It was not Simon’s idea
To carry the cross
But the Romans compelled him
After all they liked to boss.
What distance he carried it
We do not know
But the experience that day
Must have been quite a blow.
He was about his business
And happened upon the scene:
A badly beaten Jesus
And soldiers who were mean.
It really was not,
Take this cross if you please,
And neither was it an effort
To give Jesus some ease.
Matthew and Mark show
That Simon was coerced,
Compel is the word they use
To show that Simon was forced.
Some argue his nationality
As though that is key
But the following is more important
And this we ought to see.
Whether an African or a Jew
Simon carried Christ’s cross,
That cross that brings us hope
When all hope seems lost.
Some say it was a privilege
To have carried the cross of Christ,
It means Simon played a role
In the Saviour’s sacrifice.
The fact he was not willing
Is shown in the word compel,
If he was in fact forced
He could not be willing as well
We must be careful not to read
More than has been shown,
He was forced to carry the cross
And that is what is known.
Clearly Jesus was willing
To carry his own cross
That is the reason he came
It was of infinite cost.
Take the facts as they are
Read nothing into them,
To go beyond the Word of God
Creates a serious problem.
Let’s put Simon in context
Just another fact in the event
But seeing beyond the mere facts
Should always be our intent.
Remember Jesus paid the price
His was the entire sacrifice,
No human help was needed
Only Jesus could suffice.
There is a cross to be carried
The Bible makes this clear,
We must be willing to take it up
And that Jesus will help us bear.
Stewart Russell © April 2019
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