LIFE SCRIPTS

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews . They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Mark 15:21‭-‬27 NIV, Mark 15:29‭-‬32 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.15.21-32.NIV

Mark is a brief writer. But he vividly recounts the person of Simon of Cyrene… A father of two who was on his way to attend to his business but was suddenly forced to detour and assist this man in need… Jesus Christ. Christ literally had a heavy burden to bear…the cross and Simon assisted Him to carry it uphill onto a mountain-side also named ‘Golgotha’ or the place of the skull. There, He was crucified. There His tormenters divided His clothes and cast lots on them as it was prophecied. There, people mocked Him to come down and save Himself. There, even the thieves who had been crucified with Him abused Him. These were the lowest moments of Christ on earth. He bore our sins as He was bound on that tree. But the darkest episodes usually give way to brighter moments…moments of triumph and rejoicing. When the wicked one thought it was over, death and sin were taking their final blow on the cross. Christ was writing a new story for man. His human body was battered and bruised for our sakes.

Then, they mocked Him but today we honor Him…

Then, they spat on Him but today we give Him praise…

Then, they gave Him wine mixed with myrrh but today we offer to Him a sacrifice of praise…

Then they put on Him a crown of thorns but today we lift Him up in honor and glory.

Simon the father of Rufus and Alexander might have felt inconvenienced by the detour he was forced to take. But history would smile upon him because he would be remembered as one who walked side by side with the Messiah while on His way to redeem mankind.