AT THE CROSS WITH SIMON OF CYRENE
Mark 15:21, “And they pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and rufus), to bear His cross.”
Jesus was 100% human as well as 100% God. And Simon of Cyrene got grabbed to carry His cross when Jesus couldn’t go any farther with it. His back whipped raw by leaded, embedded leather thongs by the Roman soldiers. He’d been up all night in a painful position. Now He stumbled and fell.
Days and weeks before, Jesus wrestled with the natural human desire to avoid suffering. “May this pass from Me.” The intense emotional pressure of the pending cross torture haunted Him. He felt the building pressure. Jesus proved His humanity. But He stayed committed and focused on His mission.
If Jesus Wasn’t Human
Without a human Jesus, we’d never know how to express our feelings to God. We’d say, “God up there, perfect God with all power, I know You don’t know what it’s like to hurt, but I’m in pain.” Now we can say, Jesus did know what it’s like.
If Jesus wasn’t human, we wouldn’t know how to describe our sorrow. Jesus wept tears several times, once at the death of His good friend, Lazarus. And Jesus got angry in the temple and depressed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He also knew all about hunger, thirst, and weariness.
If Jesus weren’t human, we’d have no idea how or who to follow. Minus His humanity, Jesus becomes an impossible dream. You could never expect to do anything He did. You’d feel tricked by a grand charade, by a God who tried to be one of the boys but He didn’t take any of the blows like you and me. And you’d still be lost in your sin because His humanity conquered sin.
And if Jesus were not human, then resurrection and eternity are only for God, not for us. But Simon of Cyrene experienced His humanity firsthand when he lugged His cross.
The Soldiers
Mark 15:17,18, “And they (the soldiers) dressed Him up in purple, and after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’”
The Roman soldiers also knew His humanity when they beat Him, spit on Him, and mocked Him.
Jesus exhibited so clearly what I call ‘volunteer humility.’ He did not have to be there. As the Son of God He was all powerful. Jesus volunteered for this assignment and at one point in the Garden almost said, “That’s it! I quit! I don’t want to go any further!”
Sometimes humility is imposed on you, like with Simon of Cyrene. But strive for volunteer humility instead. Imposed humility tells those at the restaurant just who you are and why did they give you a lousy table? Volunteer humility takes the table next to the swinging kitchen door even though you could have the best table in the house.
Imposed humility is when your masterpiece at the flower show makes second place next to a hastily concocted wildflower arrangement entered by a ten-year-old girl. Volunteer humility invites the ten-year-old girl to your Garden Club to give you a demonstration in wildflower arrangement.
Most of the humility you face is imposed. You don’t have a choice. Or you can volunteer to get into a bind for a divine cause like Jesus did.
STEPHEN BLY
Circa 1990s
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FAITH ADVENTURE “Spend a Day at the Cross” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Learn more about Jesus through the eyes of those who were there at the cross. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
Blog post articles found here: “At the Cross with Pilate” https://www.blybooks.com/2024/03/pilate/
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