Mark 15:21-28: a reflection

21They 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. 22They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” 23They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it. 24Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. 25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The superscription of his accusation was written over him: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 27With him they crucified two robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left. 28The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with transgressors.”

On the way to the crucifixion, as Jesus is too weakened to carry his cross, the soldiers seize a passerby: They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, to go with them that he might bear his cross. Simon had not sought this; he was simply passing by, and was compelled to carry the cross of Christ. It was an unexpected, unsought burden thrust upon him; yet in it he was given a share in carrying the cross of the Lord, a privilege he had not looked for. What began as a compulsion became a share in bearing Christ's cross, an unlooked-for closeness to the Lord in his suffering.

Notice how Simon came to carry the cross: unexpectedly, unsought, compelled. He was not a disciple seeking to follow, not one who had asked to help; he was passing by, and the burden was thrust upon him. Yet what was thrust upon him was a share in carrying the cross of Christ, walking beside the Lord in his suffering, bearing the very cross Christ would die upon. The unsought burden became an unlooked-for privilege, a nearness to Christ that Simon had not sought but was given. The compulsion to carry the cross brought him close to the Lord; what he had not chosen became a share in the Lord's own burden. The unexpected call to carry the cross was a privilege in disguise.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may be called, unexpectedly and unsought, to help carry a cross, and find in it a nearness to Christ. Burdens can be thrust upon us that we did not seek, crosses we did not choose to carry, as Simon was compelled to bear Christ's cross; and we can resent them as unwanted impositions. But such an unsought burden may be a call to share in carrying the cross, a nearness to Christ in his suffering that we had not looked for. Do not only resent the unsought burdens thrust upon you; they may be a call to help carry the cross, a share in Christ's own burden, as Simon's compulsion became a nearness to the Lord. Receive even the unsought burdens thrust upon you as a possible call to help carry the cross, a nearness to Christ in his suffering, as Simon of Cyrene, compelled to bear Christ's cross, was given an unlooked-for share in the Lord's burden; for what is thrust upon us unsought may be a privilege in disguise, a call to walk close to Christ in bearing the cross.

Lord Jesus, on the way to the crucifixion, as you are too weakened to carry your cross, the soldiers seize a passerby: they compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, to go with them that he might bear his cross. Simon had not sought this; he was simply passing by, and was compelled to carry your cross. It was an unexpected, unsought burden thrust upon him; yet in it he was given a share in carrying your cross, a privilege he had not looked for. Show me how Simon came to carry the cross: unexpectedly, unsought, compelled. He was not a disciple seeking to follow, not one who had asked to help; he was passing by, and the burden was thrust upon him. Yet what was thrust upon him was a share in carrying your cross, walking beside you in your suffering. The unsought burden became an unlooked-for privilege, a nearness to you that Simon had not sought but was given. The compulsion to carry the cross brought him close to you. Take that to my heart, for I too may be called, unexpectedly and unsought, to help carry a cross, and find in it a nearness to you. Burdens can be thrust upon me that I did not seek, crosses I did not choose to carry, as Simon was compelled to bear your cross; and I can resent them as unwanted impositions. But such an unsought burden may be a call to share in carrying the cross, a nearness to you in your suffering. Keep me from only resenting the unsought burdens thrust upon me; help me receive them as a possible call to help carry the cross, Lord, a nearness to you, as Simon's compulsion became a share in your burden.