Carry the Cross

John 19:16-27
 
John 19:17 He went out, carrying his cross.
 
IS it not enough that his back is a mass of blood and broken skin, that blood streams off his forehead from the excruciating crown of thorns, that his wrists and arms are numb from the ropes that tied him to the lashing pole? Is he not broken and weakened enough? Now he must carry his own cross.
    Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah, bears his cross to the place where he will be crucified. He bears his cross to demonstrate the truth of his own words, Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
    Yes, these words are figurative, symbolic of perseverance through trials that come against us as we follow Christ. But our Lord sets for us a real cross-carrying example. He shows us in the reality of his walk to the cross, that bearing a cross is impossible without help. Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 
    Yes, a bystander, Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus when Jesus can bear the wooden beam no further. Simon, too, becomes our model. As Jesus’ disciples, we are not permitted to be bystanders. We must face our cross and bear it forward. Then we can be assured that as we do, our Lord will step in to say, “Here, I know this is too heavy for you alone. Let me help you.”
    When discipleship becomes too heavy to bear, we know our resurrected Lord has sent his Helper to sustain, empower and strengthen us. He has borne his cross. He knows its weight. He knows you cannot bear it alone.
    Living a resurrected life is faithfully stepping into the battle, then turning to Jesus to pray, “I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.” (Psalms 70:5)
     
Resurrection Truth: You don’t have to go to Golgotha. Jesus already did.