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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 8 - Christ's Passion and Death (Mark 14:1 - 15:47)

13. Carrying the Cross to the End (Mark 15:21-23)


MARK 15:21-23
21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. 22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” 23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.

Have you ever carried 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 carry worries, sins, and burdens in your life? Are you pressed with problems, hatred, or hunger? Whatever your cross may be, Christ bore it instead of you, not as a mighty hero, but as one who was broken, and at the end of his bodily strenth. Jesus understands if you cannot go on your way.

Jesus did not throw away his cross, but remained under it as he fell down. And when it appeared that he was unable to go on bearing the cross, though he was willing to, the soldiers forced a Jewish passer-by of North African origin to carry the cross for Jesus. He had come to the Passover of the Lamb of God in Jerusalem.

Today, Christ is prepared to help you. You are not alone. He is near 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 share your burdens, and to make you a partner in his blessings, power, and calling.

Are you self-assertive, proud, and willing to bear your own cross independently? Do not be foolish! Christ is near you, and he will accept you if you give yourself to him with your problems. Do not hesitate! Pray and surrender your life to him, for Jesus loves you. He is your Helper, a Faithful, Mighty Savior.

We do not know exactly who Simon the Cyrenian was. Probably he took up Jesus’ cross angrily as he would become unclean through this act, according to the Jewish rites. It would seem 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 where he lay, and saw gratitude in his eyes, for someone had helped him practically, though under force, on his way to his crucifixion.

Later, Jesus’ gratitude appeared, in that both Simon’s sons became newborn believers, and distinct of the Church of Rome. Their father bore Jesus’ cross, but Jesus bore the sins of Simon and his sons. The Cyrenian family bore eternal fruit and became filled with everlasting blessing because Simon had acrried Christ’s cross.

Jesus was led out to the public place of execution, on a hill outside the walls of Jerusalem. Here, the vertical stakes of crosses stood deeply rooted in the earth, already prepared for crucifying 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 those who were to be crucified, they mingled his with myrrh, which was bitter, and made it nauseous. Myrrh served 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 death, knowing that at this last hour of his life Satan would come to tempt him to hatred, blasphemy, and hopelessness, that he might commit one sin, which might annul all the previous and future work of the Lamb of God.

Jesus wanted to overcome the evil one, and refused all forms of anesthetization. He prepared himself for sufferings even to death, and accepted the last struggle of his life.

PRAYER: O Holy Lord, you became weak and broken under your cross. You know better than I do how small my strength is, and how short my patience is. I wish to throw away the burden placed on me. Forgive my complaint, and be merciful to me a sinner. Help me to bear my burdens and let your power, love, hope, and faith work to overcome my weakness and temptations in your name. You are the Triumphant Conqueror and you render me victorious indeed. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. What do we learn from Jesus’ bearing of his cross?

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