THE CROSS AND I
Mark 15 tells the story of the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. It is a story of pain but also of gain. It brought the worst of hell and the best for man. It is my constant prayer that the cry of Jesus on the cross will not be in vain in my life.
In this chapter we see that Jesus was brought before Pilate (Mar 15:1-5); then we read about the release of Barabbas and the condemnation of Jesus (Mar 15:6-15). He was crowned with thorns and mocked (Mar 15:16-21) and eventually crucified (Mar 15:22-32). Jesus was obedient unto death, the death of the cross (Mar 15:33-41) and lastly we see his burial (Mar 15:42-47).
The chapter relates the amazing story of the release of a known criminal called Barabbas. This is a picture of man or better still a picture of me. Who knows where I would have been today if not for the timely intervention of Jesus in my life? A criminal on his way to the cross got delivered – just like that! How ridiculous it would have been for him to refuse the free offer he got through Jesus. No sinner has any excuse for going to hell. Glory to God.
While Barabbas was a criminal, Simon of Cyrene was not. He was possibly one of those pilgrims who came to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.” (Mark 15:21) Soldiers compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus because the Saviour was already too weak to carry it Himself. The experience must have made a deep impression on Simon for we find Cyrene prominent as a gospel centre later in Acts (2:10; 11:20; 13:1) and Paul called the mother of Rufus (son of Simon) his mother “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” (Romans 16:13) A forced encounter with Jesus, changed his life forever. May my encounters with the Lord make me better in every area of my life.
I am also challenged by the boldness of Joseph. At a time that really mattered, when all who should have stood with Jesus fled, “Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:43) This man stood up to be counted as a disciple when the real disciples fled! Here was a man who had access to Pilate using his influence for the cause of Christ. Today I choose to be a disciple of Jesus and I will fully identify myself with His cause.
Lord, I thank You that You went to the cross because of me. I am grateful that You bore the loneliness of the cross because of me. I therefore go into this day renouncing my right to be free outside Your control. I want to be a companion of cross-bearers. My desire is to carry Your cross like Simon did. I am not forced into this, it is my choice to be Your follower. I also will, like Joseph, identify with You today before men and women that I come across no matter their social status. You were not ashamed to die in my place like You did for Barabbas and so I too willingly choose to belong to You, carry Your cross and honour You in every way that I can. This is my desire today, please help me to faithfully execute these goals. In Jesus name I pray Amen.