Sermon Tone Analysis

Lord, here I am.

Speak for your servant is listening.

[] Amen.

Lord, here I am.

Speak for your servant is listening.

[] Amen.

Bearing Another's Cross

Rev Karen Diaz / General

 

Bearing Another’s Cross

NIV

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.

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.

Bearing Another's Cross

If you grew up in the country, Mama or Daddy would tell you to go get a switch so they could “whoop” you for wrongdoing.

In the city, a switch might not be easily found, but you still had to get and carry the cord used to punish you!

Were you ever punished for something you did not do?

Sometimes Dad would ask my brothers and me who was the wrong-doer.

To protect the guilty one, or perhaps more because we were scared out of our pants, we would not answer.

We would then be lined up, and ALL got the whooping!

At our tender age, that was a cross we had to bear.

If you grew up in the country and were about to be punished for wrongdoing, Mama or Daddy would tell you to get a switch and bring it to them so they could “whoop” you.

In the city, a switch might not be easily found, but you still had to get and carry the thing used to punish you!

Were you ever punished for something you did not do?

There were three of us - my two older brothers and me.

Sometimes Dad would ask who was the wrong-doer.

In an effort to protect the guilty one, or perhaps more because we were scared out of our pants, we would not answer.

We would then be lined up, oldest to youngest, and if no one confessed, we ALL got the whooping!

At our tender age, that was a cross we had to bear.

What cross do you bear today?

What cross do you bear today?

Are you dealing with the consequences of an unwise decision?

Perhaps a child you’ve raised and tried to teach to be better than you - to have more comforts, more education, more advantages - does not appreciate your efforts.

Instead he/she disregards your wise counsel and now faces the consequences of his/her poor choices.

Maybe a spouse whom you have loved and been faithful to has gone off the deep end and you are trying to hold the family together.

Perhaps your cross is caring for an aging parent, a disabled spouse, a child with very special needs.

You do your due diligence, but you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and there is no let up in sight.

Maybe a spouse whom you have loved and been faithful to has gone off the deep end - with alcoholism, drugs, or illicit sexual relationships - and you are trying to hold the family together.

Perhaps your cross is caring for an aging parent, a disabled spouse, a child with very special needs.

You are doing your due diligence, but the cross is almost too heavy for you to bear.

You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and there is no let up in sight.

Perhaps your cross is caring for an aging parent, a disabled spouse, a child with very special needs.

You are doing your due diligence, but the cross is almost too heavy for you to bear.

You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and there is no let up in sight.

Whether your cross is due to your own sins, or you were just given a cross to bear, says...

Whether your cross is due to your own sins or negligence, or you were just given a cross to bear, tells us...

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

24 [Then] Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

So you take up your cross and follow Jesus...

So you take up your cross and follow Jesus; and find a way to make it through.

Your hope is in Christ.

You find peace which passes all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is your strength.

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

You have peace which passes all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is your strength.

You had kept your soul, you have peace which passes all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is your strength.

But, what is worse than bearing your own cross?

What is worse than bearing your own cross?

Bearing Another’s Cross!

Bearing Another’s Cross!

After you have borne your cross, done your duty, stayed the course and been found faithful, you are on the road from there to here, and you are seized, grabbed, forced to bear someone else’s cross!

You have borne your cross, done your duty, stayed the course and been found faithful.

You are minding your own business, on the road from there to here, from home to the city, and you are seized, grabbed, forced to bear someone else’s cross!

Simon of Cyrene, you come from North Africa to Jerusalem - an outsider, probably on your way to worship, and YOU were chosen to bear the cross of Jesus.

You did not ask for it.

Why were you chosen?The crossbeam alone weighs about 100 pounds.

Simon of Cyrene, you come from North Africa to Jerusalem - an outsider, probably on your way to celebrate the Passover, and YOU were chosen to bear the cross of Jesus.

You did not ask for it.

Why were you chosen?The crossbeam alone weighs about 100 pounds.

Maybe in spite of your tiresome travels, by God’s grace, you look strong enough to carry the weight.

Maybe it’s not your physical stamina at all.

Maybe God knows you can be trusted - you have carried burdens before and you can do it.

Maybe in spite of your tiresome travels, by God’s grace, you look strong enough to carry the weight.

Maybe it’s not your physical stamina at all.

Maybe God knows you can be trusted because you have carried burdens before and you can do it.

You do not know it now - but you are privileged.

God is trusting you with His Son’s cross - that now, in His humanity, after being falsely accused, whooped, stripped of both clothes and dignity, he is too weak to bear.

God chooses YOU, Simon, to help Jesus along His path to a punishment God’s Son does not deserve.

Perhaps - you don’t know it now - but you are privileged.

God is trusting you with His Son’s cross - that now, in His humanity, after being falsely accused, whooped, spat upon, stripped of both clothes and dignity - God chooses YOU, Simon, to help Jesus along His path to a punishment He doesn’t deserve.

Simon did you know the cross you bear will bears your sins today?

Simon did you know the Way you tread has made a way for you?

Simon did you know the cross you bear will bears your sins today?Simon did you know the path you tread has made a way for you?

Did you know the Son of God will die on that cross for me and you?

He with his cross that you deliver will soon deliver you?

Simon bears the cross for the Savior - Jesus - who bears our cross with our sins so we would not be lost; but have eternal life in heaven, and abundant life here on earth.

It is our duty and privilege to bear another’s cross.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free?

Simon bears the cross for the Savior - Jesus Christ, Son of God - who bears our cross for us.

Jesus carried our sins so we would not be lost; but have eternal life in heaven , and a more abundant life here on earth.

It is our duty and privilege to bear another’s cross.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free?

Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free?

Thomas Shepherd in 1693 and George N. Allen in 1844 published these verses:

Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear, Till death shall set me free;