Carrying the Cross
Notes
Transcript
We’re on this journey from Gethsemane to Golgotha with Jesus, It’s His journey to the cross where Jesus we already know the end of the story. We’ve stretched it out though through the season of Lent to look at it more closely and we’re discovering new insights along the way. Today, Drew read one verse for us from Mark, and it marks a really interesting twist in our story.
And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
In this passion narrative three of our four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke, mention Simon - but only Mark mentions Alexander and Rufus his two sons. One of the characteristics of the Gospel of John is how he portrays Jesus to be in control throughout the passion narrative.
When we read our Bible, I believe this is God’s Word to us, and as such there is nothing in there that’s not supposed to be there. So then the question becomes why is Simon of Cyrene listed in our Scriptures?
What do we learn from Simon of Cyrene?
As I’ve been reflecting on it this past week what seems so clear to me right now is the invitation for us to participate in Jesus death. That sounds morbid at first, but track with me here.
As I read of Simon carrying Jesus’ cross I think of other verses where Jesus mentions a cross. Like Luk 9:23-24
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
We’ve read other encouragement from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
and to the Galatians, Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
As we are on our journey through the season of Lent, Christians often choose to practice spiritual disciplines during this time: Perhaps fasting; giving up something like red meat, social media, or soft drinks; taking on a new spiritual practice prayer, extensive Scripture reading; or perhaps dedicating themselves to more service in the community. All of these things are an effort to draw closer to God, to die a bit to ourselves and giving into our selfish desires and seeking to serve another.
Carrying the Cross
Carrying the Cross
Jesus on his journey to the cross literally took up his cross, the cross that he would die on. As Simon is compelled by the Roman soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross we come to think about what that cross represents.
For the Romans of the time, and for Jesus the cross clearly represents death. For us as Christians it represents the death of our savior for our sins, so it represents both death and our sin.
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: Ephesians 4:22-24
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We’re not fully there yet. Our journey is to continue to allow the light of Christ to shine in on our lives. As that light grows brighter it will reveal in us those darker corners of our lives that we don’t yet let show. You know those areas where the dust and dirt gathers, those areas of our lives that are long left neglected.
In the past couple of weeks we’ve talked about loving the Lord our God with All: All our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength. And if we’re going to love God with ALL that means we don’t have anything left.
Carrying the Cross
Carrying the Cross
Taking up our cross is to recognize that we still have areas of our lives we’re holding back, that we still need to place under the lordship of Jesus Christ. It might be our work, our finances, our relationships with our family or spouse, our relationship with a neighbor.
You might be holding on to some anger or resentment. You might have a habit you don’t want others to know about. Perhaps you’re tempted to: cheat on your taxes; perhaps you have unhealthy gambling habits; perhaps you have a hidden addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, or an addictive relationship with food; there are perhaps a host of things in your life of which you are likely aware that you have not released to Christ.
So let’s say you’ve identified an area in your life that you recognize does not fit with seeking to honor God with your life, now what?
Psychologists, Business consultants, even self-development coaches tell us that when we want to change our lives there are some basic steps we can take to help us be successful in making that change:
Reflect and recognize what it is that needs to change. Admit/identify the problem. What areas of your life does this problem impact?
Make a plan to change, with measurable steps.
Follow the plan.
Find someone to hold you accountable.
Reflect again - Are the steps you’re taking yielding results.
If yes - keep going; if no - alter your plan and continue.
And once again psychologists, business consultants, and self-development coaches have discovered something that’s been there for nearly 2000 years.
Jesus calls us to being our best selves, the people we were created to be.
At home, you may struggle with unresolved conflicts with your spouse or children that seem to persist no matter how much you try to communicate. To carry your cross, take time each day to pray for those family members specifically, then set aside time to listen to their concerns without interrupting. This can foster an atmosphere of peace and lead to open discussions that might soften misunderstandings.
Within our church community, you may notice some members feel marginalized or unheard during discussions or decisions. To carry your cross, take the initiative to reach out to a brother or sister who seems distant. Invite them for coffee or a meal where you specifically ask about their thoughts on church matters, showing them the love of Christ by genuinely valuing their opinion.
When engaging with others in public spaces, you might encounter hostility or negativity, especially on social media. To carry your cross, practice responding with grace instead of reacting in anger. Make a commitment to pause and pray before posting or replying to contentious issues. Choose to share uplifting messages or scriptural truths that can lead conversations towards understanding and kindness instead of conflict.
Seeing Simon of Cyrene involved in the carrying of the cross reminds us that we too participate in putting to death our sins. I can only imagine that it not only changed his life but the lives of Alexander and Rufus as well. It’s interesting that this is the only mention of these three throughout the Gospels or the New Testament. Perhaps Rufus is the same Rufus Paul addresses in Romans 16:13, where that person is referred to as “Chosen in the Lord.”
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
How are you taking up your cross daily? How are you following Jesus?
Let’s take a moment to pray together. I want to invite you all to calm your mind, close your eyes if that helps you focus, and breathe deep.
Breathe in - Lord Jesus.
Breathe out - help me follow you.
Take a moment to bring to mind an area of your life you think God might want to change. Invite God into the space. Ask for help to change.
Clench your fists and imagine yourself holding on to whatever that thing is in your life that you sense God wanting to change. Confess to God what it is your holding on to.
As you unclench your fists open your hands as you imagine letting it go. Invite God to take it from you as you imagine it falling from your hands.
Thank God for grace lavished upon you through Jesus. Hold your hands together with your palms up, and imagine receiving God’s love and grace. Imagine it filling your cupped hands and overflowing with that grace and love. Take a moment to relish in it.
Breathe in deeply.
Exhale.
Take a moment to thank Jesus. Amen.
Carrying the Cross
Carrying the Cross
