“The Characters of Lent:
The Roman poet Cicero described crucifixion as “the
cruelest and most hideous punishment.” Crucifixion was used
especially in the outlying, conquered lands of the Roman Empire,
like Palestine, because in those places there often were only a
handful of Roman soldiers to keep control over the rebellious
natives. The Romans crucified criminals and rebels as an
example and a deterrent. As part of this deterrent effect, those sentenced to be crucified were
forced to carry their own crosses through the city streets out to the place of
execution, which was called Golgotha in Aramaic and Calvary in Latin, both of
which mean “The Place of the Skull.” At the front of the procession would
be the Roman centurion in charge of the crucifixion detail. Behind him
would be another soldier bearing a plaque on which was written the criminal
charge, the reason why the condemned man was being crucified, as a warning to
all not commit this same crime. The victim would follow, carrying his own
cross, which could weigh several hundred pounds. The other soldiers in the
crucifixion detail would follow behind the prisoner, to prevent him from
escaping and whipping him if he slowed or stopped. A long, winding route would be taken through the city, so that as many
people as possible would witness the spectacle. Today, the route that
tradition says Christ took carrying his cross is called the “Via Dolorosa,”
which is Latin for “The Way of Sorrows.” Every Friday, thousands of
Christian pilgrims from around the world walk the Via Dolorosa, commemorating
Christ’s journey out to Calvary. And on Good Friday, tens of thousands of
pilgrims form a huge procession along The Way of Sorrows. One of the most
memorable experiences of my life was walking the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday in
1980, and that day I bought this stole that I use during Lent in a little shop
on the Via Dolorosa. On the first Good Friday morning three groups paraded out three men
through the streets of Jerusalem. Two of the men were common criminals,
thieves and robbers. But, the notice carried before one man bore a very
strange inscription for a crucifixion victim: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of
the Jews.” Although Pontius Pilate knew it was not true, that was the
technical, legal reason why Jesus was crucified, supposedly because he claimed
to be a king in opposition to Caesar, which was a treasonable offensive under
Roman law, punishable by death. On the way to Golgotha, Jesus was so weakened by all the punishments he
had already endured that he simply could no longer carry his cross no matter how
much the soldiers whipped him. So, the soldiers grabbed at random from the
crowd Simon of Cyrene and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Roman soldiers
had the authority to temporarily impress non-Romans into their service. A
Roman solider could require any non-Roman to carry his pack or other burden for
one mile. That’s what Jesus was talking about when he said in the Sermon
on the Mount, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” We don’t know much about Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene was a city in
northern Africa, modern-day Libya. Simon was probably a Hebrew, in Jerusalem for
the Passover celebration. Mark adds that he was the “father of Alexander
and Rufus.” This probably means that after this memorable encounter with Jesus,
Simon became a Christian, and at the time Mark wrote his Gospel, Alexander and
Rufus were well-known in the Christian community as the sons of the man who
famously carried to Calvary the cross of the suffering Savior. It seems Simon just happened to be walking into town that day. He
didn’t expect to be carrying a condemned man’s cross. Some people would
say he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as he was pressed into service
by the Roman soldiers escorting Jesus. But, the condemned man whose cross he was carrying was the Messiah, on
his way to suffer and die for the sins of the world. Tradition says that
this event had such an impact on Simon that he did become not only a believer in
Christ but a leader in the early Church, and his sons Alexander and Rufus became
missionaries in Africa. So, this “passerby” moment had an extraordinary
impact on the lives of Simon’s whole family. God really put Simon of
Cyrene in the right place at the right time. Paul says in Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way
you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Like Simon, we often have unexpected
“passerby” moments in our lives, when we come into contact with people who have
burdens they need our help to bear. God is putting you in the right place
at the right time. As Paul says a few verses later in Galatians,
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to
those who belong to the family of believers.” Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I
will give you rest.” But, he also says to us, “Whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” Just as Simon of
Cyrene carried the cross for Christ, Christ now works through you, to the weary
and heavy-laden whom you encounter in your life bear their burdens. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me.” Simon of Cyrene literally took up the
cross for Jesus. Like Simon of Cyrene, take up the cross. Take up
the cross, by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your salvation.
Take up the cross, by patiently enduring for Jesus’ sake all the crosses of this
life. And take up the cross, by the weary and heavy-laden whom you
encounter in your life bear their burdens. Just as Simon of Cyrene was there to help Jesus bear his cross, Jesus
is with you, daily, to help you bear your cross for him.
There are so many ironic coincidences between events at the beginning and
ending of Jesus’ life. It was Herod the Great who tried to kill the baby
Jesus, and his son, Herod Antipas, who questioned the prisoner Jesus. The
Wise Men had asked, “Where is he that has been born king of the Jews?” and the
sign posted above Jesus on the cross read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the
Jews.” The Wise Men presented the child Jesus with myrrh, and when he was
crucified, Jesus was offered, but rejected, wine mixed with myrrh to dull the
pain, and with myrrh his body was prepared for burial. Did Mary think of these things and ponder them in her heart as she
watched her son, Jesus, being crucified? Did she remember the words Simeon
had spoken in the temple when Jesus was just a few weeks old, proclaiming him to
be the promised Messiah and then ominously telling Mary: “And a sword will
pierce your own soul also”? The sword Simeon prophesied was the pain and
anguish Mary endured as she watched her son die on the cross. The crowd around the cross was insulting and taunting Jesus, “If you
are the Son of God, save yourself! Come down now from the cross and we
will believe in you!” In this angry mob Jesus sees two friendly, familiar
faces: his dear mother, Mary, and his closest friend, the apostle John. It
seems Mary is a widow, and, as her oldest son, it is Jesus’ responsibility to
take care of her. Even in the midst of all his horrible pain and agony on
the cross, Jesus shows his love for his mother by commending her to the care of
John, as John reports in his own Gospel: “[Jesus] said to his mother, ‘Dear
woman, here is you son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From
that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” Paul says in Ephesians, “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as
an offering and sacrifice to God.” On the cross Jesus showed his deep love
for his mother by committing her to the care of John. And on the cross
Jesus also showed his deep love for you, by giving himself up for to pay for all
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