THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Mark 15 (click here for link)

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. –Mark 15:21

Isn’t that how it is in your life sometimes? You’re going along just fine and dandy, and turn a corner and suddenly you are forced to bear a cross—a loved one receives a serious diagnosis from the doctor, or someone hurts your feelings. Yes, crosses come in all shapes and sizes. But it is how you bear your cross that matters; because in this way, God is glorified and Christ receives honor. After all, Jesus said, “Anyone who does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27

The crosses that are laid upon us because of our faith in Christ are much, much more than simple persecution for our faith. That would be too simple. No, our crosses are any bad thing that happens to us in life. But the way in which you bear up under such things—the way you handle yourself as a person of faith—either gives glory to Jesus or dishonors him and shows the cross to be a week and paltry thing. If stress from work leaves you angry and bitter in life, than perhaps you must re-evaluate what it means to pick up our cross and follow Him. If financial burdens leave you contemplating how you might skip out on our taxes, than perhaps you should ask yourself, “Am I a Christian? Has the cross saved me?”
We are not just passer-by’s observing Jesus from a distance—admiring him and his work but never getting involved. No, we are much like Simon of Cyrene; crosses are simply laid upon us. As Christians, we are inseparably connected to Christ. We now live under the cross, in the cross and through the cross. Our crosses are now a sign of the Glory of God which is upon us. It is through our crosses that God strengthens us and, yes, even gives us peace and calm and serenity. Because we know that in all things—the worst of things and even the everyday little bothers that we face—the cross of Christ means salvation for us. It means healing. It means that even in the here and now of this sinful world, we have hope of a blessed end with Christ.

Apparently, Simon’s faithful service to the Lord had a lasting impression. Mark identifies him as the father of “Alexander and Rufus.” Apparently these young men were well known to the Christian community to which Mark is writing. Simon’s willingness to bear the cross influenced his sons. Even Paul writes about a certain faithful Rufus (could it be the very same one?) in Romans 16:13. Simon’s example reminds us that when we faithfully bear our crosses in life—be they big or small—we testify to Jesus Christ in ways that often speak louder than words.
Pick up your cross and follow him!

Pastor Aaron