Another way of helping our lord: as in His human weakness he needed someone to carry His cross, so in Glory, he needs us to carry out the purposes for which it was borne. The paradox is that He needs nothing, yet He needs us, just like he needed the tethered donkey to bear Him into Jerusalem. Though He bore Simon’s sins ‘in His own body on the cross,’ He needed Simon the Cyrenian to help Him to bear the cross, and He needs us to help Him to spread throughout the world the blessed consequences of that bitter Passion. So, to us all is granted the honour, and from us all are required the sacrifice and the service, of helping the suffering Saviour.

Notice that around the cross there are degrees of criminality. From the violent malignancy in the religious leaders, down to the lowest point of ignorance in the Roman Legionaries, who were merely mechanical instruments of the order given, and who “watched Him there” with eyes that saw nothing.  

The crucifixion scene is divided into classes, just as the last days will do so. On the other hand, there are  all the grades of service and help and sympathy, from the vague emotions of the crowd who beat their breasts, and the pity of the daughters of Jerusalem, or the kindly-meant help of the soldiers, who would have moistened the parched lips, to the heroic love of the women at the Cross, whose ministry was not ended even with His death. But surely the most blessed share in that day’s tragedy was reserved for Simon, whose bearing of the Cross may have been compulsory at first, but became, before it was ended, willing service. Whatever were the degrees of recognition of Christ’s character at that time, and of sympathy with the meaning of His sufferings, became the smallest and most transient impulse of loving gratitude that went out towards Him. It was rewarded then, and is rewarded for ever, by the blessed results in the hearts of those that behold it now.

Simon never imagined that his service would become a perpetual memorial. I can’t help but consider men who fret their whole lives away to win what Simon won (and new nothing of it) in a moment – a one line chronicle of fame. So, what of our seemingly inconsequential acts of service? If I sow but one seed in a field of wheat I can in the end look upon the waving golden fields ready for harvest and say I had a part. Just like the tiny trickle that flows into the little stream which itself runs down the gully and coalesces with the river and that into the rolling boundless ocean. My insignificant labours contribute to the great unnumbered multitude who will stand upon the sea of glass. The ocean is made of drops. My Christian service is part of the whole and in its consequences shall endure for eternity. We seek that one grain, we rejoice together. We do not labour in vain. The only things that last in this life are those things we do for God.

 Simon the Cyrenian apparently knew nothing about Jesus Christ when the Cross was laid upon his shoulders. At first reluctant to undertake the humiliating task of plodding along behind Him for a while, sullen and discontented, but by degrees touched by more sympathy.  Getting closer and closer to the Sufferer. Finally, he stood by the Cross when it was fixed, and saw all that transpired there, no wonder if, at last, he came to understand who He was that he had helped.

As he stood by, he hears the words “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.” As he lingered at the foot of cross, he had borne, he hears the words, “Truly I say unto you today, you will be with me in paradise.” He sees the missing disciple bring Jesus’ mother to the foot of cross – looking up he hears the words of affection for His mother. From the darkness spread all over the land he hears the anguished cry, “My God My God why have you forsaken me.” He beholds his humanity as He cries, “I thirst”. Finally, he hears the cry of victory “It is finished.” (Tetelestai – your debt is paid in full) Followed by His committal to the father, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

I beseech you, take your place there behind Simon, near His Cross; gazing upon Him till your hearts melt, and you, too, learn that He is your Lord, and your Saviour, and your God. The Cross of Jesus Christ divides men into classes as the Last Day will. It then will divide humanity into ‘sheep’ to the right hand, ‘goats’ to the left.  If there was a penitent, there was an impenitent thief; If there was a convinced centurion, there were gambling soldiers; if there were hearts touched with compassion, there were mockers who took His very agonies and flung them in His face as a refutation of His claims.

To where will you be separated?

Look to Him, I plead with you, who bears what none can help Him to carry, the burden of the world’s sin. Let Him bear yours, and yield to Him your grateful obedience, and then take up His cross daily, and bear the light burden of self-denying service to Him who has borne the heavy load of sin for you and all mankind.