152. Wednesday after Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Lord Jesus, draw us after thee. Amen.
Matthew 27, 31. 32. Luke 23, 27-31. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
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He is condemned to die, and is led away together with “two other malefactors.” The scripture says “two other malefactors”; and thus it calls him, also, a malefactor. In this manner the Son of God is led through the streets of Jerusalem, bearing his cross. A remarkable pageant it was! Legions of angels were willing to relieve him of the cross, but no man would; Jesus himself will and shall bear it. Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice; his father Abraham had laid it on him. But here the only begotten of the Father carries more than the tree on which he is to be sacrificed in the fire of God’s wrath; his soul also is crushed by the weight of the awful judgment on him. He knows whither the way leads; he feels the fire in his conscience; “murder is done in all his bones.” — How terrible a thing is sin, and how awful the justice of God! Could not the mere willingness of the Son of God to put himself in the place of sinners and suffer their punishment have been sufficient to appease God’s wrath? Could not the Father have pardoned his only Son without demanding any further suffering? No; the punishment must be undergone, and even the well beloved Son is torn with the agony of the damned. Death racks and fells him who is without sin or blemish in mind or body; the fire of hell burns in this most sound, green, and vigorous tree. How great a burning shall there not be, then, when the hollow, dry, dismembered branches are piled up high and set on fire!
The episode with Simon of Cyrene shows how Jesus had poured out his soul unto death, how his strength had failed him. (Isaiah 53, 12. Psalm 38, 10). It is not to be supposed that Satan stops him in his work of atonement; nor is it to be inferred that any other can or shall bear the sins of the world for him or with him; neither Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry the cross, nor the two thieves, who by their own deeds had deserved everlasting punishment. No: the purpose of the occurrence here related is to make plain to us, how entirely sin consumes man’s strength, and how wholly Jesus has relinquished the use of his omnipotence, how completely he has staked everything for us, and how perfectly he has in this wise made atonement for us.
It was necessary to lay hold on Simon of Cyrene and force him to bear the cross after Jesus. This matter is one with which we should be familiar; for we are in similar case. However, though at first we bear the cross with the greatest reluctance, we learn later on to bear it willingly. To the true cross-bearers the cross becomes the lighter, as it grows more heavy; the dearer, as it lasts the longer; until all our need and misery become altogether bliss and everlasting songs of praise.
Lord Jesus, I thank thee that thou didst bear the accursed cross for me, in order that I may bear the cross of sanctification in the fellowship of thy sufferings. Alas, there yet is much in me which rebels against it; have mercy, and teach me to take up my cross willingly and gladly; and draw me after thee. Amen.
The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom he manifests his love,
And grants his name to know.
The cross he bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to him:
His people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.