March 17 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Mark 15:16–23

Devotional

On the way to Golgotha Christ is at the point of succumbing to the cross. The lashes, the crown of thorns, and the mental tortures fatigue Him enough that He is unable to carry His cross to Calvary. Who then will carry the cross of Christ? This cross could not be placed on the shoulders of one of the Roman soldiers. It was below the dignity of a Roman. The Jews are even less prepared to take up the cross. The Roman centurion clearly understands that the Jews who just cried out, “Crucify Him,” want nothing to do with that cross. The disciples who should have been on the road with Jesus have all fled away. They could have carried the cross of their Master. Is no one found to carry the cross of Christ? This must have been an agony of soul to Him, who came to hang on the cross for sinners. There is not one sinner who is willing to carry His cross.

While the procession comes to a halt, a man approaches from the opposite direction. It is Simon of Cyrene. He had not involved himself with the process against Jesus. He did not cry along with the multitude, — 129 — but he had quietly gone to his field. In returning home from his field, Simon’s mind may have been occupied with thoughts of his land. “If only it would rain!” or “If only the crops would grow!” But now, the cross is laid upon his shoulders against his own will. The soldiers compel him to carry the cross of Christ. They had to compel him and that shows that he protests. For neither did Simon want to have that cursed wood on his shoulders. Really, he had done nothing wrong. He is not a convicted criminal. Could they just place wood on someone’s shoulders for no reason? Moreover, a wood of curse is also a wood of shame. When you carry it, you are not worthy to be looked upon. It is shameful to carry it. Simon surely did not want to carry the curse and shame of another. Luke records that the Roman soldiers laid hold of Simon. Simon wanted to run away, but the soldiers grabbed him and insisted that he carry the cross of Christ. Before Simon knew it, he was walking between two murderers under a cross.

Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross of Christ. Assuredly there is no one who wants to carry curse and shame, no, not one. And yet it seems fitting and appropriate that man should carry the cross instead of Christ. What did Simon do that it seems proper that he should carry this cross? He had not taken part with the Jews, had he? He did his duties responsibly in his field. Does he have to be under the cross? The issue is not so much Simon. We know no evil about this man. Yet, we still know one thing about him, namely, that he, as any other person, is worthy of the curse because of sin. And he is, therefore, worthy of the cross. Simon is representative of all of us. He is only one out of the corrupt mass of mankind. We are all like him. We deserve this cross, this curse, and this shame. It is fitting that we carry the cross of Christ; it is a must. Christ must be without the cross, for He has done nothing amiss. We must be under the cross, for we have transgressed supremely against God and have forsaken God’s way of salvation.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.