Jesus is Crucified - Trust the Helper

John 19:1-5 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, ‘“Hail, king of the Jews!’” And they struck him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, ‘“Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.’” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, ‘“Here is the man!’”
 
John 19:14-18 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. ‘“Here is your king,’” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, ‘“Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!’” ‘“Shall I crucify your king?’” Pilate asked. ‘“We have no king but Caesar,’” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  
 
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.
 
JESUS has suffered his people’s rejection and the governor’s unjust brutal condemnation. Blood streams from the excruciating crown of thorns. His wrists and arms are numb from the ropes that tied him to the lashing pole. Now Jesus must carry his own cross.
    Jesus, fully man and fully God, bears his cross to illustrate 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 we will encounter as we obediently follow Jesus Christ. But in this painful, disgraceful procession, our Lord sets for us a real cross-carrying example. He shows us that bearing a cross is impossible without help.
    Simon of Cyrene, who has come for the Passover, is commanded to help Jesus when Jesus’ strength is gone. Simon submits to the work and they continue to Golgotha.
    Cross-carrying requires we bear it forward. We don’t take up the cross and stop our work, letting the trial keep us from our mission. We take up the cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:240) We must bear the challenges and obstacles in sure expectation the Holy Spirit will step in to say, ‘“Here, I know this is too heavy for you alone. Let me help you.’”
    Jesus knows you cannot bear it alone. He has suffered the cross for your eternal safety. Living a cross-carrying life is trusting God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
    On that dark day, Jesus, the man, needed help. God sent him Simon. On the days the cross is too heavy, Jesus will send the Spirit to help you.
 
Resurrection Truth: Psalms 46:11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.