WHO WILL CARRY THE CROSS OF JESUS?

WHO WILL CARRY THE CROSS OF JESUS?

Greetings to you in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, by God’s grace, we have been given another day of life, and with it, an opportunity to learn from His Word. Let us not waste this chance.

While we live on this earth, we must remember that there is a kingdom the Lord Jesus went to prepare for us in heaven. Sadly, not everyone will enter that kingdom. Only those who are granted His grace will inherit it. Others may be invited, but they will not reign as kings and priests—they will be part of the Bride of Christ, while the brothers of the King will inherit the kingdom. (See Matthew 22:1-13)

Jesus said that those who will inherit the kingdom are the ones who “stood by Him in His trials.”

Luke 22:28-29:
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me.”

Notice that those who endured with Him—from His birth, through His ministry, to His death—were Mary, the apostles, and a few others who followed Him faithfully, like Matthias. And now, in our time, it is our opportunity to participate in the same way while we live here on earth.

Today, we will focus on one individual who shared in Jesus’ trials, and through whom we can learn how to position ourselves for a place in that glorious kingdom. That person is Simon of Cyrene.

Remember the time when Jesus was about to be crucified. After being severely beaten, spat upon, slapped, and crowned with thorns, His condition was unbearable. The Bible says He was more marred than any man (Isaiah 52:14); to look at Him, He no longer appeared fully human because of the wounds He had endured.

Yet, the soldiers were not satisfied. They forced Him to carry His cross to Golgotha. But after a short distance, He could not continue. His steps were small, His strength gone. Perhaps the soldiers even beat Him to force Him forward, but He could not respond. That is how exhausted the Lord was.

Finally, the soldiers realized He would delay them and needed to find another way. They looked among the crowd, but no one seemed able to lift the cross. Though a great crowd was following Jesus that day, none of them could carry it. Most were merely spectators, some were complaining, others sympathetic—but no one could help Him.

Thankfully, there was one man coming from the fields, unaware of what was happening. The soldiers saw him as capable, seized him, and compelled him to carry the heavy cross to Golgotha.

Luke 23:26:
“As they led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A large number of people followed, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.”

Why was it Simon from the fields and not someone else? Because the soldiers recognized him as a worker, someone accustomed to labor, strong enough to carry the weight. They needed someone able to help so that the journey to Golgotha could continue. And indeed, Simon fulfilled that role.

Now consider: how must Jesus have felt about Simon? Seeing someone bear a burden He could no longer carry, His heart must have been moved with compassion for every drop of sweat Simon shed climbing that long hill to Calvary. Surely, someone like Simon, who actively participated in Jesus’ trials on earth, would be included in the kingdom Jesus prepared for His saints. If the thief on the cross, who did nothing good, was promised paradise simply for believing, how much more Simon?

Mark 15:21:
“They compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry His cross.”

What can we learn from this?

The Lord will not entrust us with His cross if we are not people of the field—those who are accustomed to serving Him actively. If we are lazy or soft, He may see us as likely to abandon the cross, failing His purpose.

Being a person of the field means actively serving in God’s work, not merely listening or reading the Word like those in the crowd who followed Jesus but did nothing.

Being a person of the field means offering yourself to Christ’s work according to the gifts God has placed within you.

Being a person of the field means living a disciplined, godly life (1 Timothy 4:7-8)—praying, fasting, witnessing, and spreading the gospel.

Then the Lord will see a reason to give you the grace to carry His cross. And the reward is a place in the kingdom in heaven that He went to prepare for those who shared in His trials on earth.

Therefore, let us be spiritually strong and courageous like Simon, not lazy or passive—hearing but never doing. Even small distractions can take us off the path of salvation. Each day, let us seek to know and do God’s will.

May the Lord bless you abundantly and guide you in your journey of salvation here on earth.

Shalom.

Please share this good news with others.

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