“As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene who was on his way from the country, and put the cross on Him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (Luke 23:26 NIV)
I wonder, are you weary yet this week? It’s Saturday but it feels like the week was ninety days long, didn’t it? The world has changed in a matter of days and maybe we are feeling a bit winded?
Bethel’s song Ever Be played over me at some point in the past few days and the words washed over my soul like a fresh breeze.
“And you shoulder our weakness
And your strength becomes our own…”
Simon of Cyrene came to mind; the random man from the crowd who was selected to shoulder Christ’s cross on the Via Delarosa. I could picture him, going about his business, attending to the obligations of his faith, struggling through the crowd when he happened upon the brutality of our Savior’s last living hours on earth. He was laid hold of by Roman citizens and forced to share the burden of Jesus’ cross.
Simon’s heavy-laden steps on the Via Delarosa give us physical picture of what Christ has done for us. We were languishing under the weight of sin, struggling to carry it to our end. And Jesus saw our pain and came from heaven to carry it for us. As Simon shared Christ’s burden, so Christ shares ours.
If this week has had too much weight, remember now that we are not alone in this. We have a Savior who bore our sins, who bore our shame, who offers us His unwavering strength. Pass the load to His shoulders today, He is willing and He is capable of carrying it all on our behalf.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV)
“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
Lord, may we be quick to share our burden with You. There is no honor in trying to carry the load entirely on our own shoulders. Help us remember that You are our constant companion on the road home. You never leave us or forsake us. You are strong when we are weak. Amen.