ssali64

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke there is a role played in Jesus' Crucifixion that often goes unnoticed. As Jesus is struggling to carry his cross down the Via Dolorosa, the Roman Soldiers call out a bystander to assist him. Now, they didn't ask nicely, Roman Soldiers were not known for their gentleness in such matters. The man's name is Simon of Cyrene. He was there like everyone else to celebrate the Passover and as Mark tells us, he had his 2 sons Alexander and Rufus with him. Imagine the horror. You have traveled from out of town to Jerusalem for the holiest day of the year. This would have been a rare event for sure in that day. He probably had never heard of Jesus and certainly wouldn't have known about the Crucifixion. Yet here he is, being thrust into service to witness and participate in the unthinkable. Ray Boltz tells this story so well in the following song, Watch the Lamb. I pray that you enjoy it and may you be Blessed this day and throughout this Easter Weekend.