Have you ever borne a trunk, which was three meters long? Christ’s cross was a very troublesome unwieldy load. Jesus, worn out by the tensions of the preceding hours, was unable to bear the cross alone, so he collapsed and fell down.
What a great comfort to us! Jesus had to become similar to us in all respects of life. Yet, he remained sinless that he could be merciful to us with respect to our weaknesses.
Do you bear worries, sins, and burdens in your life? Are you pressed with problems, hatred, or hunger? Whatever your cross may be, Christ had borne it instead of you, not as a mighty hero, but had brokenly reached the end of his bodily strength. Jesus understands you if you could not go on your way.
Jesus did not throw away his cross, but he remained under it as he fell down. And when it appeared after all instigation and beating that he was unable to go on bearing the cross, though he was willing to, the soldiers forced a passing-by Jewish of North African origin, who had come to the Passover of the Lamb of God in Jerusalem, to carry the cross for Jesus.
Today, Christ is prepared to help you. You are not alone. He is near to you. He knows you by name, and says to you: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We learn from this verse that Jesus walked with his Father under one yoke, and plowed with him the field of the world. As such, Jesus wants to enter into an intimate and perfect fellowship with you to take part of your burdens, and to make you a partner in his blessings, power, and calling.
Are you self-asserted, proud in your subconscious, and willing to bear your own cross independently? Do not be silly! Christ is near to you, and he will accept you if you give up yourself to him with your problems. Do not hesitate! Pray and surrender your life to him, for Jesus loves you. He is Helper, Faithful, Mighty, and Savior.
We do not know exactly who Simon the Cyrenian was. Probably he took up Jesus’ cross angrily and disgustedly, having become unclean through this act according to the Jewish rites, seeing that his visit to the holy land, which had involved a lot of expenses and sacrifice, was in vain.
Probably he looked into the eyes of Jesus who was thrown down, and saw gratitude in his eyes, for someone had helped him practically, though forcedly, in the way of his passions.
Jesus’ gratitude appeared in that both Simon’s sons became later on newborn believers, and distinct members of the Church of Rome. Their father bore Jesus’ cross, but Jesus bore the sins of the father and his sons. The Cyrenian family bore eternal fruits and became filled with everlasting blessing because of Simon’s bearing of Christ’s cross.
When the train of passions came to the public place of execution, on a hill outside the walls of Jerusalem, where the vertical stakes of crosses stood deeply rooted in the earth, already prepared for crucifying the criminals.
The people called that place Golgotha, meaning a skull, where the heads of condemned criminals were cut off, and thieves were hanged. Some interpreters say that the name was due to the skull-like shape of that hill. Yet, Jesus’ cross split the symbol of the skull of men, for the wise in their wisdom did not recognize the wisdom of the incarnate God, but crucified the Lord of glory and the best of all men.
It was a custom to give wine to persons that were to be crucified, they mingled his with myrrh, which was bitter, and made it nauseous. Myrrh served as a drug administered to deaden the torture of the horrible death of crucifixion. Jesus, however, refused to allow such a stupefying potion to cloud his senses. He was willing to bear the death cautiously, knowing that at this last hour of his life Satan would come personally to tempt him to hatred, blasphemy, and hopelessness that he might commit one sin, which might annul all the previous and future toils of the Lamb of God.
Jesus wanted to overcome the evil one cautiously, and refused all forms of anesthetization. He prepared himself for the sufferings even to death, and accepted the last strife of his life.