A Man Passing Through The Crowd Series

Conclusion

Arthur Blessitt, of Sunset Strip, California carried a ninety-pound cross across America and many countries of the world. Speaking at a national conference, he related how he had carried the cross across the newly opened border between Israel and Egypt soon after the historic Camp David peace treaty was signed. The Arab commander at the border asked for a piece of his cross.

Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

You may be passing by today—just a person in the crowd. Maybe a jeweled cross hangs around your neck. What does that mean to you? Have you taken up the cross? The way of the cross leads to forgiveness of sin, abundant life, and the defeat of death. Simon of Cyrene, a man passing through the crowd, found this amazing hope in the cross. So can you!

THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE IN THIS STORY THAT WE DON’T WANT TO MISS; IT IS THAT WE TOO ARE CALLED UPON TO BEAR A CROSS FOR CHRIST.

We sing a Hymn that says, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there is a cross for everyone, and there is a cross for me.” I read that there was another version of this hymn which says, “Must Simon bear the cross alone, and the saints go free? Each saint of Thine shall find his own, and there is one for me.”

Each one of us is called the bear the cross of Jesus. You find this place of favor willingly. The cross will not be forced on you. You must make a public commitment of your life to Jesus Christ. You must be willing to bear any shame or suffer any loss in His service. Will you join Simon of Cyrene beneath the cross?

“My God, why … ?” is not an unknown prayer among Christians. We ask, “Why did she contract cancer?” “Why was I fired?” “Why does God seem to forget us?” Yet Jesus, after having uttered, “My God, why … ?” on the cross, then whispered, “It is finished,” signaling not only the end of his suffering, but the completion of his work.

Let me leave you with this true story I read about two faithful women, who were cross-bearers for Christ. Irene Ferrel graduated from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles with a burden for overseas missions. She found her place in the Congo, where for 10 years she taught school, shared Christ, and worked in a dispensary in the Kwilu bush. In 1964, Communist rebels mounted guerrilla raids to overthrow the government. Missionaries in the Kwilu Province were threatened. Irene and her co-worker Ruth Hege decided to evacuate from their station. A helicopter was ordered, and on January 24, 1964, the two prepared to leave. They packed essential belongings, and then gathered their Congolese workers for a final time of worship. The final songs died down, the last prayers were offered, and the women began anticipating the chopper’s arrival. When it didn’t come, they decided to retire and rise early to await it the next day. Shortly after midnight, young, intoxicated rebels attacked. The youngsters, some barely teenagers, were smoking hemp, smashing windows, and screaming for blood. Storming the house, they dragged the women from their beds and danced around them in wild circles in the moonlight. One youth shot an arrow into Irene’s neck. With her last ounce of strength she pulled it out, whispering, “I am finished,” and died. Ruth Hege, also struck by arrows, pretended to be dead, not even moving when one of the rebels jerked out a handful of her hair. Only after the attackers finally ran into the forest could Ruth crawl to safety. Many other Christians perished during the 1960s Congolese turmoil. It was a killing time.