Simon Walks the Privilege of Pain

The Name Simon, in Hebrew, means listen or hearing.

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. Luke 23: 26

We are looking at the agony, suffering and pain of a man who walked behind Jesus, who literally followed Jesus, step by step as He walked this Cross Road. All eyes were on Jesus. The large crowd of people who followed, were glued to The Man from Galilee. The women who mourned and wailed for the entire journey, were all grieving for Jesus. No one had eyes for Simon of Cyrene. No one felt his pain as he was suddenly given this Cross to bear. The man was literally bearing the Cross of Jesus.

Look at Simon a bit more. He was minding His own business, and by all human thinking and talking, we would say that Simon was in the wrong place at the wrong time. You see, the cross was no light thing to carry. It was no small thing to carry. It was the structure crudely put together to hang a man and hold his weight. The cross was heavy, clumsy and rough.

The Weight of the Cross: - This weight would cause great pain for this man, now walking in from the country. He had already walked some ways and he could not have been a rested man. He was a tired man, who, almost reaching his destination, was literally taken by surprise, as he was made to take the weight of the Cross upon him. He had no say in the matter. It was put upon him and there was no escaping, short of death.

There are times in our walk with Jesus, when we are given unexpected pain, and like Simon, we have no choice but to bear it. These are the times when, like Mary and Elizabeth, we sing praises to God for choosing us, favouring us to share in the Life of His Beloved Son, be it in birth, or death. This Privilege of Pain is most underserved and if we would see the honour bestowed upon us, to be given but a tiny part in the suffering of our Lord and Saviour, then our praises would never stop. God the Father, also promised us a resurrection with His Son.

The Walk of the Cross: - So Simon bears the weight of the Cross, but he also bears the Walk of the cross. The cross is not just the physical object, but it is the psychological weight also. Do you think it was easy for Simon to see this man being taken to His death, an innocent death, and be hearing all the jeers of the people as he walked? Do you really believe that following the slow steps of Jesus, seeing Him bleeding with that cruel crown of thorns on His head, was easy for Simon to sustain? Could he close his eyes to walk? No! He had to walk behind Jesus all the way to the crucifixion point. And even if Simon were tired and might have stumbled, even though he might have wanted to give up at times, the sight of the suffering man before him, would have driven him to keep walking and following.

In your own privileged walk of pain, you too keep your eyes on your own suffering Lord and Saviour. You too keep your eyes on the human Jesus. And when those times came that made you want to quit, when you stumbled and fell, when you were too weak to carry on, the very sight and image of your Lord before you, inspired you to keep walking.

The Way of the Cross: - The scripture tells us that Simon’s way was not the way of Jesus. Initially, Simon was never going in the same direction as Jesus. Simon was on his way in, from the country. He was on his way in, to Jerusalem and Jesus was on His way out of Jerusalem. When Simon was entering the city from the country, he had not the foggiest idea that he would have to change his way, to follow such a cruel way. The way of the cross is physical, psychological and emotional pain. To change one’s way is not really the issue, but to change from a manageable, un-stressful road, a way that one can easily bear, to a way that is of suffering and pain, stress and distress, is not what one would choose for himself or herself. To leave, or be made to leave one’s planned way, to go the way of pain, is most unwelcomed. Can you see Simon, as he has to, not just turn around, but turn with the Cross of Jesus on his shoulders? The weight of this way, must cause emotional pain.

In your own privileged walk of pain, as you have no choice, no say, in the matter of your way being turned around, keep your mind stayed on the feet of the One you are following. He is Jesus, the Lamb of God. He is the suffering Son of God, who uttered not a single word of complaint or accusation. His way was always the Cross Way. He came for that reason. You did not come for this reason, yet God has bestowed upon you the privilege of changing your way, to share in a part of His Son’s way. You are not deserving of such a gracious honour.

My friends in Christ, whether you have already had a Privilege of Pain, are knowing it, or will know it, give God thanks and praise. You are special and highly favoured, to have been given any part of this Cross Walk with the Saviour of the world. Only God can give us such honour.