Matthew 27:31-34 Mark 15:20-23 Luke 23:26-31 John 19:16-17

Matthew 27:31-34 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. 32 As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

Mark 15:20-23 20 After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him. 21 They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross. 22 Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.

Luke 23:26-31 26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. 27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 “For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 “Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ 31 “For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

John 19:16, 17 16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

Jesus has been kept up all night long and into the day.  During this time, He has been beaten multiple times and there is no record of Him being given anything to eat during this time.  As goes to Golgotha, there are several exchanges that are noted in the passage.  These details give us context and information as to what was in the mind of Jesus as He goes to be crucified.  He endured the same, the pain, humiliation and the wrath of the Father so our sins might be forgiven through His sacrifice on our behalf.  We should be filled with Gratitude for His love, mercy and grace.

SIMON CARRIES THE CROSS: Before taking Jesus to the cross, they put His own clothing back on Him.  Normally, the person being crucified was made to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion.  However, Jesus was apparently too weak from the beatings and the long period of time without food, water or sleep that they called Simon to carry the cross for him.  We really do not know much about him other than that he had two sons, Alexander and Rufus.  Paul greets a man named Rufus at the end of Romans, but we have no way of knowing if this is the same person.  Jesus, in His humanity, shows signs of physical weakness from exhaustion.  This is a demonstration of the fact that Jesus was fully human.  There will be times when we all face weakness in this life.  We must learn not to be ashamed of this and ask for help.   

JESUS WARNS THE WOMEN: Jesus was constantly served through out His ministry by a group of women who helped to serve Him and His disciples.  They had a vital role in His ministry, and they were here at the cross weeping over the things they were seeing.  Jesus sees them, stops and warns them and all of us about the future and the coming judgment.  There is and always has been a price to pay for following Jesus.  Jesus instructs these women of Jerusalem that they should be weeping for their daughters in the distant future who would face a plight of persecution like He was facing.  The pain of the persecution will become so great that barrenness will be considered as a blessing.  There is no pain like watching your children suffer.  The perversity of the people will become so great, that they will refuse repent.  Instead, they will call for the mountains to fall on them.  This same language is used to describe the Tribulation in the book of Revelation.  If they treated Jesus in this way, we can be assured that under the reign of anti-Christ, things will become even worse.  The hearts of men can be very hard.  We must be prepared to face this reality and stand firm in the face of any persecution and suffering we are called to endure.

JESUS PROLONGS THE PAIN: Before being hung on the cross, the soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with gall which He refused to drink.  This mixture was likely used to deaden the pain as it would dull the senses.  Jesus knows that the hours that follow will be some of the most important hours in the history of the world.  He will take the full wight of the wrath of God for the sins of men.  This is not a time to have His senses dulled.  The focus that Jesus has on what He is doing and why He was on earth is such a great example for us.  Too often we are more concerned with our own comfort or finding the easiest way as opposed to making the most of every opportunity.  The words Jesus will speak from the cross, the ministry He would have to people and the redemption of mankind were far more important to Him than His physical pain.  May He give us the strength to endure whatever pain might be necessary to accomplish His will for our lives.

APPLICATION: Helping others and being helped is a part of what it means to be human and should be a normal practice.  Know that suffering and persecution is also a part of walking with Christ and it is likely to get worse before it gets MUCH better.  The easy way is not usually the best or the right way to accomplish God’s will.  Be ready to face hardship as a follower of Christ.