Simon

Today’s reading is Matthew 27.

Be Simon of Cyrene.

In His grace, God provides us another object lesson. It’s not an easy one. But it is a great one. We learned yesterday about Barabbas who escaped the cross. However, now we see Simon of Cyrene who is forced to carry one.

We should absolutely think of Jesus’s teaching about bearing crosses when we think of Simon. I get it. It’s a paradox. Are we escaping the cross or are we carrying it? Yes.

I don’t know how Simon acted when the Roman soldier grabbed him and forced the cross on his back. I can’t imagine he was happy about it. He may have even tried to refuse. However, I can’t help but notice in Mark’s record of the gospel, he names two sons of Simon: Alexander and Rufus. You realize what that means, right? Mark believed his audience of Christians knew Alexander and Rufus. Yesterday, I couldn’t say if Barabbas’s experienced changed him. Today, however, I think it is pretty certain Simon’s experience changed him and even changed his family tree. Carrying the cross led to Simon’s salvation.

I know it isn’t pleasant. I know we want to avoid it. But bearing our cross is the path to eternity with Jesus. On the one hand, Jesus died so we don’t have to. On the other hand, Jesus died so we could die with Him. We share in His sacrifice. We share in His suffering. We share in His life. If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.

Be Simon!

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 27.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What does it mean for us to bear our cross today?
3. In what ways do modern Christians suffer with Jesus?
4. In what ways do we escape suffering because of Jesus on the cross?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

A Dual Citizenship

Today’s reading is Acts 16.

Paul is a citizen of heaven. Philippians 3:20 says so: “But our citizenship is in heaven…” Yet, in Acts 16:37 he declares he and Silas are citizens of Rome. Christians have a dual citizenship. I am a citizen of heaven. I am also a citizen of the United States of America. As such, Paul was able to enjoy the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship. When his Roman rights were violated, he was able to seek legal recourse. That is exactly what he does here in Philippi. In an interesting twist, after having been falsely accused of urging Philippians to act in ways “unlawful for us as Romans to accept or practice,” the magistrates acted in a way that was unlawful for Romans to accept or practice. They beat uncondemned Roman citizens and threw them in jail. Paul seeks recourse. When we face persecution or treatment, especially from governing authorities, that violates our rights and privileges as citizens of our country, we are allowed to seek redress and recourse through legal means. We will have to put up with persecution and trouble. Often, there will be little we can do about it. However, we are allowed to use the rights and privileges of our earthly citizenship to our advantage and to the advantage of Christ’s kingdom as well.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 16.