First observation..
I thought of this question...
"Why of all people among the crowd, Simon of Cyrene was selected to carry the cross?"
I did some research and came across these findings....
The word compelled was actually of the same word used in Matthew 5:41, that says, "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two", and it refers to the Romans who had the authority to order any Jew to perform any activity in the service of Caesar, and the Latin word comes from the literal meaning of the Persian word is to be “pressed into the service of a king” . Guess what, he actually was serving a king! He probably had not realised yet, is that the king that he was "compelled" to serve that day was not the king of Rome, but the king of Israel, JESUS! Imagine the shame of having to walk right behind a condemned man, bearing the burden of what he may think that wasn't his, obligated to carry the cross with a journey which felt like as long as walking through a desert without water.
As he journey through, I believe Simon would have gradually realise that the man he had walked behind, was actually his saviour who had borne his transgressions. On that very important day, it was Simon's first meeting with his Saviour, as he looked at the eyes of Christ, the thing that would have impressed Simon is that he didn’t see the eyes of a guilty man, nor an angry man, nor a defeated man. I would have imagined what he saw was the look of determined man who wanted to go to Golgotha, a man who wanted Simon to bear the cross and help him to that destiny, a man who wanted to go there, and I thought I should emphasise (v23) ....they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it..." after tasting it and knowing that it was to numb his pain, he chose to endure EVERY SIN that hurts to the deepest part of his skin and bones. And maybe, when he got there Jesus might have uttered quiet ‘thank you Simon’ as the burden was lifted off Simon.
Remember the passage it says that Simon was coming out of the countryside into the city of Jerusalem, and Jesus was being brought out Jerusalem.... these two men were travelling in opposite directions on that day. Notice a symbolic act that took place, Simon was called to serve the king of kings, he had to "turn around" and as you can see, he started walking towards the opposite direction, "the way of Jesus". His life was completely turned around by this meeting of the crucified Christ! His steps now follows Christ!
Isn't this amazing?? What about you? Do you know that we are all called to be the "Simon of Cyrenes" of today? Through the sacrifice of our Lord, we have experienced the love of Jesus, Just like the depiction of a mother giving birth to a child (quote: Amanda, "pop~!" xD) , she would refuse the epidural, Jesus refused the wine with myrrh, Jesus ran his race well, he did not give up nor take the "short cut" and he endured all the way.
If God had called you this day, to "take up your cross and follow me", would you do it?
I found this sharing online written on someone's blog about
"The Cyrene Privilege: Being Simon".. as promised here's the excerpt of the poem..
....Loud and spitting people,
Cruel and frightful looking soldiers,
'Swish', the cane, time and time again!
Pandemonium, dust, anger, smell of blood.
Beaten man, battered man!
Heavy cross;They must really hate this guy.
I'll really hate to be him right now
All around; curses, stones, laughter, mockery.
What could he have really done to deserve all this?
Holy-looking pharisees,
Frightful looking followers; Crying women... this is crazy !
I should be on my way... WHAT!?
Me ? Take the cross ? Help him ? Why me ? Oh no!?
I was just passing, just watching ?!
I am out of luck!
This is really heavy! What could he have done to deserve this ?
How could he have anymore energy to lift this after all this beating and maiming?
Look at him - By God and the prophets, what has he done? Don't these people have pity?
Will I be able ? This Cross is weighing me down! I didn't bargain for this.
Its not mine to carry. This is killing me---all for someone I barely know.
This man... look at him...scarred, bloodied, hurt!
But the peace in his eyes, the humility in his step, the meekness in his pain, the determination in his countenance. He really believes he is up to something groundbreaking here.
This Jesus must be made out of stone!. Why is he doing this ? Why not just denounce and go his way ?
Why will he endure all this ? And go through all this ? Didnt I hear Pilate gave him a way out ?
He must really believe what he is doing.
He must really love his followers...
He must really really be committed to his cause and His Father.
I guess helping him out is not that bad after all.
I suppose I can carry for a few metres , what he has carried a whole long way!
I think I can help this man, even if I was only forced to do it.
I think I will bear the weight, only if to give him some temporal respite.
I think I can do it.
I think i can; I know I should; Its the right thing to do ...
I always wondered what Simon of Cyrene thought when he was ordered to help Jesus carry his cross unto Calvary. I was gonna preach on this but i really cannot do it justice ...not at this time. So I just put down some disjoint thoughts.
History and the Bible don't give enough information about him for us to know if he was or wasn't a follower of Christ. Either way, he secures a very enviable place in my heart, as being the one man to have helped Jesus on his way to save me. I cant expound anymore on this but just say that, whatever his intentions were, and however it came to be that he was asked to help the King of Kings - It was a privilege no one else in the world would ever have again!
I would have loved to be Simon of Cyrene... I don't know about you.
But to carry the cross, endure the whip, the scorching sun, the dust, the dirt, the stones, and the curses.
I would have loved - if only for a short way off - to have helped my Saviour, as he toiled to save me.
I would have loved to be Simon of Cyrene, even if i didn't intend on being him from the start.
Maybe Simon didn't know the 'why', but I do.
Maybe Simon didn't want to try, but I would.
Maybe Simon wasn't sure of it all , but I am.
I would have loved to help my Saviour, my redeemer, my king.
I would have been scared, but I would have loved to try...show him, how much he meant to me.
Such that if carrying that cross was all I could do , I would have carried it like a king carried a crown.
But wait! I think I still can!
I can still carry my cross - And be Simon in my own way...my own very small way.
I can bear the cross of the world, love my enemies, endure scorn for righteousness.
I think I still can stand for the right, and say no to wrong, and go against the tide.
I think I still can love my neighbour, help the needy, forgive my wrongdoers.
I think I can still carry the cross and follow my Jesus .
I might not be Simon, but I think I can still try to help Jesus , My Lord.
'Cos I know He did it for no one else but me.
'Cos I know the blood,the sweat, the tears....were shed for me.
'Cos I know he deserved it not, but bore it all.
And 'cos I know it was gonna be alright, come Easter Sunday.
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Let's prepare our hearts during this season of lent and spend some time to reflect on Jesus and his love for us in our lives....
Worthy is the lamb, that was slain...
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