Luke 23:24-26

MUST JESUS BEAR HIS CROSS ALONE?

Intro: As we read in the Gospel the many accounts of pain and agony that our Lord endured for us that night and day in which He suffered for the sins of humanity, our hearts are stirred and our emotions shocked. Yet, too often, we read these words we fail to catch the small details that make this story come alive for us. In this passage, we explore one of those small details.

Let's take a few minutes this Easter morning and look at Simon the Cyrenian and ask ourselves two question’s, first Must Jesus Bear His Cross Alone? Second, I ask you to consider the question; are you, like Simon, willing to bear the cross behind our Savior ?

I. WE SEE THE CROSS REVEALED

V. 24 Jesus’ Crime - According to the Bible, Jesus was accused of claiming to be the King of the Jews. In reality, Jesus was going to the cross because it was part of his Father's plan, Rev. 13:8. From a human standpoint, Jesus was condemned because of who He was and because He taught men the truth about worshiping and serving God. The only thing Jesus was guilty of was loving the sinners (John 3:16) of this world and showing them the way to come to God.

The religious leaders and the people of Jerusalem wanted Jesus crucified and out of the way. Pilate made several attempts to satisfy the people without taking a stand, but the time had come for him to either take a stand and do what he knew and was warned to be right or give in to public pressure.

V. 25 His pardon of a murderer – As the crowd shouts free Barabbas and crucify Jesus; Pilate satisfies their demands sending Jesus away for them to do their will. Barabbas is an illustration of mankind; we all by birth are guilty of sin and disobedience. We all have taken the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ and done with it what we will.

(Ill. This morning lets never forget what Jesus endured just because He didnt want you and I going to Hell. He endured the worst that man could do to Him and He suffered it all because He loved us more than He loved His own life! You see the beating scourging, humiliation, embarrassment, betrayal and denial that Jesus endured was nothing more than the illustration of sin and what it does in a person’s life. Look back at your own life, remember what sin has done to you, your family and loved ones. I’ll bet it looks a lot like the physical body of our savior or at the very least, what he endured as far as emotional and mental torture. What a glorious demonstration of the love of God for you and I - (Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.; (John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.)

I. We See The Cross Revealed

II. WE SEE SIMON COMPELLED

A. His Scheme - We do not know a lot about this man named Simon. All we know about him is that he was from Cyrene which was located in Africa. We know that he was in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover, so it stands to reason that he must have been a Jewish proselyte. If this were the case, he was probably traveling with his family. This man, an African, probably a man of color was in this place to worship, to offer a Passover Lamb instead he comes face to face with the Lamb of God!

(Ill. What a picture of grace! Can you remember at time when you were just like Simon, minding my own business then you came face to face with the Lord? Maybe you didn’t know anything about Him, but He was looking for you!)

B. His Selection - The Bible tells us that they “Laid hold” or "compelled" Simon to carry the Lord's Cross. This word means to "press into public service.” You see Roman soldiers could enlist civilians to do certain tasks for them. People were required by Roman law to obey, or they could be put to death. Jesus seems to mention this practice in (Mat 5:41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

C. His Shame - Perhaps one of the reasons the soldiers pressed Simon into this service was the color of his skin. You see, it was considered the most degrading act imaginable to carry the cross of a condemned man. No soldier would want to do and, and the soldiers probably would not have chosen anyone who was obviously Jewish to do on the eve of the Passover. To have carried this cross would have branded that person and would have rendered them ceremonially unclean. For Simon, the Passover was over the minute he touched the cross. The word "compel" carries with it the idea of force. Perhaps it was the threat of death that caused this African to pick up that cross and carry it. Regardless of the circumstances, from the moment Simon touched that cross, he was a marked man!

(Ill. Did you realize that the cross of Christ is still associated with shame? (Heb. 12:2). Jesus said that one of the marks of His disciples was that they had to have willingness and a desire to carry the cross, (Mat 16:24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. This passage makes it clear that those who follow Jesus must be willing to deny themselves, take up that cross what ever it may be and follow Him. Please note that the steps of Jesus led Him to death before they led Him to glory! The same may be true of you and me! For sure, bearing the cross will bring the reproach of the world, 1 Cor. 1:18, but a willingness to bear the cross behind the Lord will bring the smile of God! Just as a condemned criminal was forced to carry his cross to show the world that he was under and submissive to the rules he once rebelled against, so the born again believer must bear the cross of Christ, which is self-denial, to show the world

that we are now submissive to the rule of the One that we formerly rebelled against. This may mean that we have to walk out of step with the world. I can tell you this for sure it will mean that we must be different from the world in our thinking, our manner of life, in the forms of entertainment we use, in how we conduct ourselves in our interpersonal relationships, etc. Don't even pretend to be carrying your cross unless you have surrendered every area of life to the will of God. How can you answer these questions: Is God pleased with everything you do? Could you invite Jesus to listen to your music? Could you invite Him to watch TV with you? Could you take Him along on a date? Could Jesus join you in everything you do? If not, then someone needs to change, and it’s not Jesus! If you have seen the movie “The Passion of Christ,” I want to recall your attention to the scene where Simon was carrying the Cross for Jesus. As they approached Golgotha Christ begins to fall again, Simon grabs His arm while still holding the Cross, telling Jesus your Almost there. Well today, we have those roles reversed, today if we are carrying our Cross; rest assured we will be bloodied, beaten, bruised, humiliated and tortured. But now our Savior is reaching down to us, grabbing hold and telling us hang on your almost there. Friend are you carrying your cross this morning?)

I. We See The Cross Revealed

II. We See Simon Compelled

III. WE SEE A SINNER CONVERTED

The Providence Of God - It was no accident that Simon and his family were passing through Jerusalem at that precise moment. In fact, I believe that it was a divine appointment that allowed his path to cross that of the Lord. I don’t claim to understand all the workings of our Lord, but I do know that He has a way of bringing people to Him, people that need to be saved. Remember the woman at the well, John 4:4-29? Remember the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:26-39? Apparently, God used this event to bring about the salvation of Simon. God brought a seeker together with the Savior!

(Ill. Do you remember how a divine appointment worked in your life to bring you to Jesus. It was no accident that you were brought to Him! It was the intervention of and the grace of God!)

Conc.: As we consider these thoughts together this morning, I need to ask you this question: Are you saved? Do you trust in Jesus and Jesus alone for your salvation? Like Simon, are you bearing the Lord's cross and following Him through life, gladly bearing the shame and reproach of His great Name? Can you really relate to the love God has for you. Let me share something with you. "Suppose for a moment its Wednesday night and you’re here at church when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio." While the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made," Two women are lying in a local hospital dying from a mystery illness." Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country.

People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders. Then, all of a sudden, the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, all over the country, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: "Go to your local hospital and have your blood tested. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals." Sure enough, when you and your family get down there the line is long, and the nurses and doctors are coming out, pricking fingers, taking blood, and putting labels on it.

You and your family are out there, after taking each person’s blood type they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around scared with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on, your asking the question to yourself, if this the end. Suddenly someone comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your child tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before you know it, they have grabbed your child. "Wait a minute, hold it!" And they say, "Its okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has got the right type."

Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine." As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying.

But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says,” May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need. . . we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-h-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all!" "But but..." "You don't understand. We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We - we need it all - we need it all!" "But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had
clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?" In numb silence, you sign. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with your child before we begin?"

Could you walk back? Could you walk back to that room where your child sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Could you take their hands
and say, “Your mom and I love you, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be?

Do you understand that?" And when that old doctor comes back in and
says, "I'm sorry, we've - we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Can you leave? Could you walk out while your child is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why - why have you forsaken me?"

And then next week, when they have the ceremony to honor your child, and
some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they
go to the lake, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "MY CHILD DIED! DON'T YOU CARE?"

Is that what God is saying? "MY SON DIED. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I
CARE?"

If you are lost, you can be saved today. If you are saved, but you have allowed things to creep into your life that are not pleasing to the Lord. If you would be totally honest and would you have to admit that, you’re not really bearing the cross. Maybe you’re just kind of sliding through life and really not living for Jesus in a serious, heart commitment, well, there's hope for you too. Whatever your need, I invite you to come to Jesus and get it settled. Must Jesus bear His cross alone? Not if you and I will fall in there with Him and join Him in a life that is totally committed and sold out to Him.

Sugar Hill Baptist Church

4-11-04