Four soldiers. One criminal. One cross. Simon, a farmer, stands among the crowd
and can’t see the man’s face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches. Jesus
stops in front of Simon and heaves for air, the beam rubbing against an
already-raw back.
“His name is Jesus,” someone speaks. “Move on!” commands the
executioner. But Jesus can’t. The beam begins to sway. Simon instinctively
extends his strong hands and catches the cross. “You! Take the cross.” Simon
dares to object. “I don’t care,” the soldier says, “Take up the cross!” And
Simon did literally what God calls us to do figuratively: take up the cross and
follow Jesus. Luke 9:23 says, “If any of you want to be my followers, you must
forget yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me”
Thanks to Terry Shields of Loganville, Georgia for sending this into FGGAM!
God Bless you Terry!
