The Other Cross Carriers

The Other Cross Carriers

“15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. 16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” Mark 15:15-20

Intro: On the northern coast of Africa in what is now modern-day Tripoli in Libya

There was a Greek settlement known as the city of Cyrene.

The distance from Cyrene to Jerusalem is nearly 900 miles.

Those of Jewish faith who traveled from Cyrene to Jerusalem for the Passover

probably made it only a hand full of times…, or maybe only once in their life time.

For Simon, seeing the walls of the city of Jerusalem come into sight must have been a relief

and a sense of great accomplishment.

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the city was in an uproar.

While there were normally many people who came to Jerusalem this time of year

There was something more ominous, more worrisome in the atmosphere of the heavy crowds.

Angry mobs filled the streets, some shouting, others weeping bitterly.

It would have been difficult for anyone to maneuver through the chaotic streets

to see what all the commotion was about.

Perhaps Simon heard some of the conversations that Jesus was going to be crucified.

We have no way of knowing for sure that Simeon even knew who Jesus was.

But since the city of Cyrene was a busy shipping port for trade at the time

It is possible…, even likely…, that news about this Jesus who was fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah

had spread even as far away as Cyrene.

The news that Lazarus who had been three days in the grave but was raised alive again

was also likely to have been talked about all around the city and region

by locals as well as travelers coming into the Holy City.

But either way…, whether Simon had heard any of this or knew nothing about Jesus or not

It doesn’t really matter because he could not have foreseen what was going to happen to him next.

The title of today’s sermon is “The Other Cross Carriers”

There is nothing like changes in one’s travel plan to reveal how we truly handle life.

For myself, going on a vacation or a trip becomes an obsession.

I like to plan months ahead.

I like to get the best flight for the price.

I like to reserve the “perfect” seat either by the window or isle whichever is better.

Stay at the best hotel for the money.

I look at Travelocity and Hotels.com.

I look at reviews people have made of restaurants.

I like to schedule the right amount of travel time and rest time and entertainment time.

My motto is plan, plan, plan.

With an itinerary in hand, I embark out on a journey to make memories.

Only to be met with forces of construction zones, bad weather, heavy traffic, airport delays,

and all the other unexpected changes that are unforeseen.

To say the least, I don’t like “changes in the plan.”

Especially when I am on vacation.

Changes for me equal stress, hassles, and more work.

In the church there is a common saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!”

While I believe in free will and we have the choices in front of us to make.

The book of Proverbs is filled with truths that put our plans in true perspective.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)

God is telling us to put our energy into pleasing Him.

God’s plans are the only plans that really matter.

God is actually in the plan changing business.

Changing our plans into His plans which actually ends up with something much better than I could ever hope for in the first place.

This is what Jesus did with his own disciples and also what happened to Simeon of Cyrene.

Simon didn't see it coming.

He was trying to make sense of the outrage when a Roman soldier pulled him from the crowd,

ordering him to carry the cross.

Simon must have been mortified.

If this man’s blood gets on me, I can’t celebrate the Passover, that was the whole reason I was there.