Cross Moment

Mark 15:21 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.
 
THERE was Simon from Cyrene, a city of northern Africa populated with many Jews. He had likely come for the Passover Feast. Simon and possibly his sons Rufus and Alexander were going about their business when suddenly they encounter Jesus, carrying the cross’ crossbeam toward Golgotha. The beam weighed about 100 pounds! The beaten condemned man is very weak. He needs help. So the Roman executioners forced Simon to carry the crossbeam. In his incarnation, the Lord, who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble needed Simon’s help to complete his mission to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
   How did Simon’s sudden call to help the Christ impact his life? Apparently he became a Christian, and his sons and wife followed after him. Mark names his sons Rufus and Alexander because evidence is they became Jesus followers. Paul mentioned Rufus and his mother in Romans 16:13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
   God’s pattern is to call his chosen out of the crowd, isn’t it? He has a plan to put you into the center of the drama called daily life. When you proclaim him “Lord” he helps you step from the crowd to be his helper to expand the gospel: Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
   This is God’s call to commitment, even as he knows it is too heavy for you alone. The opposition is strong. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
   But Jesus promises his strength will empower us to completion of our work. John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.
When you are saved in the power of Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, the Spirit will be your Helper to conquer evil and welcome God’s righteousness.
   Simon’s life changed when he encountered the cross. What difference does Jesus make in your life?