March 28, 2018
Luke 23:26-56

 

In this narrative we meet the character of Simon of Cyrene. Simon of Cyrene only appears in the synoptic gospels and only at the scene where a bludgeoned, bloodied, weakened, near death Jesus is unable to carry his cross up the hill to Golgotha for his own crucifixion. A Roman guard forces Simon out from the crowd to pick up the cross and assist Jesus to his place of execution. When I think of Simon of Cyrene, I think of the fact that just as in the story in Luke, Jesus needs people to carry his cross through our daily lives today. The task is arduous, but necessary. Just as Simon helped Jesus carry out his mission of atoning for the world’s sins, how will you carry out Jesus mission in our world during this Lenten season?

 

Devotion by Robert Bannan