Simon from Cyrene Carries Jesus’ Cross

by Max Lucado

“A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus”
(Mark 15:21)

Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as scarce as space on the Jerusalem streets. He’d hoped for a peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet. Simon prefers his open fields. And now, to top it off, the Roman guards are clearing the path for some who-knows-which-dignitary who’ll march his soldiers and strut his stallion past the people.

“There he is!”

Simon’s head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know. This is no dignitary.

“It’s a crucifixion,” he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict’s shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but stumbles beneath its weight. He pushes himself to his feet and lurches forward before falling again. Simon can’t see the man’s face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.

The sour-faced centurion grows more agitated with each diminishing step. He curses the criminal and the crowd.

“Hurry up!”

“Little hope of that,” Simon says to himself.

The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees. The beam rubbing against an already raw back. Rivulets of crimson streaking the man’s face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.

“His name is Jesus,” someone speaks softly.

“Move on!” commands the executioner.

But Jesus can’t. His body leans and feet try, but he can’t move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can’t. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except the farmer. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.

Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and the bulky bystander and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon’s shoulders.

“You! Take the cross!”
Simon dares to object, “Sir, I don’t even know the man!”

“I don’t care. Take up the cross.”

Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street, out of anonymity into history, and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.

He did literally what God calls us to do figuratively: take up the cross and follow Jesus. “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me” (Luke. 9:23 CEV).

NEW Gift Book! This story from:
This is Love – The Extraordinary Story of Jesus
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

With winter winding down, it seems appropriate to remember that more of us catch colds or the flu at this time than during the winter. Here’s a few tips to help you get through that nasty ol’ fever:

FIGHTING A FEVER

Fevers can be downright unpleasant. Nobody likes feeling hot – or chilled – listless, and achy. As uncomfortable as they are, though, it’s important to remember that when you’re sick a fever isn’t working against you, but for you.

 By raising your temperature, your immune system is making your body an uncomfortable place for viruses, bacterial infections, or other bugs to live. This can shorten the duration of your illness, help antibiotic or other medications to do their job, and even make you less contagious.

 If your fever is below 103° F (or 102° F for children), it’s usually best to just let it run its course. There are a few things you can do to to make yourself a little more comfortable until you’re feeling like yourself again, though. Here’s a look at just a few:

 Drink Fluids: Fevers cause dehydration, and dehydration can make fevers worse. Break the cycle by drinking plenty of fresh water or fruit juice. Vegetable juice or broth are also good options, but be sure to choose low sodium options. Too much salt will just worsen your dehydration.

 Suck on Some Ice: If you feel too sick to drink, sucking on ice can be a gentler, and cooler, way to get your fluids. You can freeze fruit juices into an ice cube for a little extra nutrition, or to add flavor for a finicky child.

 Try a Cold Compress: If your fever rises above 103° F, apply a cool compress to areas where the heat is greatest, such as your armpits and groin. You can also sponge these areas – and your entire body – off with cool water.

 Take a Lukewarm Bath: Sitting in a room temperature tub for a while can make you feel more comfortable.

 Wear Layers: It can be hard to stay comfortable when you have a fever. You can alternate from feeling overheated one minute to feeling chilled the next. If you wear layers and keep several blankets nearby, you can take off extra blankets and clothes when you feel hot, which will allow excess body heat to escape. Then, you’ll have them handy bundle up again if you get a chill.

 Drink Linden Tea: This herbal tea can induce sweating, which can help your fever to break.

 But wait! Should you feed a fever or starve one? Doctors say you should eat if you feel hungry, but don’t force it if you don’t. Just be smart about it.

 And, remember, never give a child aspirin, because aspirin can trigger Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal neurological illness, in children. Use children’s strength acetaminophen (Tylenol, or a generic) instead.