Cyrene was in what is now known as Libya in North Africa and about a thousand miles from Jerusalem. Simon was a long way from home, probably going to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus didn’t have strength to carry his cross after his beatings and a soldier demanded Simon help and carry it. We don’t hear anything more of Simon in the Bible, so did he stay and see Jesus crucified? We don’t know, but it must have had an effect on him to carry the cross behind Jesus and see His suffering.
When we come to know the Lord, it says in Romans 6 that we have united with Him in His death and resurrection, and our old self gets crucified so we are no longer a slave to sin but alive to Christ. That means daily we die to self so we can live for Him. In a real sense, we all bear our own cross as we put Jesus first and ourselves last. Today, many are suffering persecution or have painful health issues as they bear the cross for Christ. I have friends who live in continual pain without complaint, even though they have gone to many doctors. I count them as bearing their cross for the Lord.
Let us practice Jesus’ words in Luke 3:24-25, “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day and keep close behind. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will save it.”
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