The Event That Changed Simon of
Mark 15:21
March 17, 2013
PM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
I.
Introduction
A.
Let’s look at what the
Bible says about this man known as Simon of Cyrene
B.
Mt 27:32
C.
Luke 23:26
D.
The ONE BIG thing the
Bible wants us to know about him was that he carried our Lord’s cross the last
part of the way to the hill just outside of
E.
Let’s learn all we can
about HOW to carry a cross
F.
WHY? Because Jesus told US
to carry our cross (Luke 9:23)
1.
Our cross is offensive to
the world
2.
It has a message – our sin
killed the Son of God
3.
It has a glory – it is
where sin was defeated, and stays defeated!
4.
Don’t think it is easy to
carry - It is a heavy burden – but it is worth it!
II.
Message
A.
Carry the
Cross as a Spiritually Concerned Man
(Mark 15:21) – He was making up his own mind, doing his own searching
1.
Here was a proselyte / a
convert to Judaism from the paganism of his home country, 600 miles away in
2.
He had grown up a Cyrenian
– a pagan idol worshipper – he was not a Jew standing there that day at the
Passover celebration
3.
He was a black man – like
the Ethiopian Eunuch
4.
He was converted from
paganism to Judaism – but not a Christian yet
5.
He was concerned about
spiritual things – didn’t think it was wimpy or effeminate to be concerned about
sin, and righteousness and the wrath to come, and preparing for it!
6.
Every man must realise
that no matter what religion you may have grown up in, if it was not based upon
the Bible of the Jews, then you cannot even begin to understand the cross and
what it is all about (John 4:22)!
7.
Decide to follow the words
of a Jewish Book called the Bible! That’s where God expects you to start! Not
with your own book on meditation or prayers, but from this Book!
8.
He had come to
9.
He was just part of the
tens of thousands of people who thronged
10.
He saw the whole city
moving towards the city gate and was curious what was going on
11.
And then he saw a Man
carrying a cross, dragging it down the road out of the city
12.
He evidently had just
arrived maybe – missed all that had gone one lately
a.
Missed all of Christ’s
teachings, his miracles
b.
Had missed the crowed
crying Crucify Him
c.
Had missed all the mock
trials of this Man from
B.
Carry the
Cross As a Compelled Man
(Mark 15:21)
1.
As Jesus carried the
cross, He looked terrible – like no other man had ever looked – so bruised, and
whipped, and torn, and bleeding
2.
The lead Centurion, the
guy in charge of the crucifixion, had pity on this Jew from
3.
And he saw a strong black
man, standing there, standing out of the crowd
4.
And he yelled at him to
come out of the crowd and take this Man’s cross, and carry it for Him!
5.
At that moment, Simon’s
life changed
a.
He wasn’t really
interested in who this criminal was
b.
He didn’t worry about the
injustice of Pilate and Herod and the Pharisees
c.
He would never have known
anything about this Jesus, if he had not at that instant been COMPELLED,
commanded, forced to come out of the crowd and carry His cross outside of
6.
Simon becomes a great
example of how to carry a cross!
a.
Peter should have been
there to do it. John should have been ready too
b.
ALL of Christ’s followers
were supposed to be ready to carry that cross (Mark 10:21) – literally!
c.
But they were nowhere to
be found!
C.
Carry the
Cross As a Crucified Man (Gal 2:20) - As if it is YOURS!
1.
Simon was supposed to pick
up and carry such a massive, and heavy object, dragging it hundreds of feet up a
hill
2.
No easy feat – rough,
heavy, bloody, bulky
3.
It’s not YOUR cross you
are carrying, but of a Man from
4.
But it becomes YOURS at
that moment
a.
It will be an
embarrassment! A shame!
b.
It is not your problem
that is your cross, it is Christ’s shame that you are associated with now
c.
Take
Its Shame proudly, gladly
5.
You carry it even when it
doesn’t make sense
6.
Carry it to the top of
that hill called Calvary,
7.
Carry it because you are
commanded to (Luke 9:23)!
8.
So, when I am taking up my
cross:
a.
It is not something new,
but something very old I am carrying, and very embarrassing to this world. At
least the true cross is.
b.
It is not for ME to die
on. No! I already died – June 15, 1980.
c.
It is me carrying the
cross of Christ today in my life as a friend of that despised Man, a servant of
that failure of a King, a follower of that dying Master, and as an adopted SON
of God, willing to lose everything in MY life now, in order to win His praise
(Philp 3:8)
D.
Carry the
Cross Close to Jesus
(Luke 23:26)
1.
Simon was not leading –
Jesus still was
2.
Simon had to follow behind
Jesus, closely
3.
Couldn’t run and hide
amongst his old friends
4.
He was out in the open,
and now he was associated with this “criminal” guy that he might not have even
known the name of
E.
Carry
the Cross As a Covered Man
1.
By the time that Simon
picked up the cross, it was covered in blood – Jesus’ blood
2.
Remember, Jesus had been
so severely whipped that He was bleeding all along the way, and all over that
cross beam
3.
That blood was drenching
Simon now!
4.
Let that blood cover YOUR
sinful past and your sorrows and failures!
F.
Carry the
Cross as a Captivated Man
not forced to, but amazed and unable to turn away from it – Compelled!
1.
He watched the hypocrisy
of the Pharisees (Mark 15:29-32) and the wonder of Jesus
2.
He watched Jesus willingly
lay down on that cross
3.
He was close enough to see
everything as it all happened, and he heard everything that was said
4.
It just blew him away!
AND IT WAS ENOUGH!
G.
Carry the
Cross As a Changed Man
– You Carry A Cross as a Changed Man
1.
That day was enough to
change ANY man
a.
It changed the Centurion
(Mk 15:39)
b.
And it changed Simon – how
can we know?
c.
Because two of his sons
were changed: Rufus and Alexander (Rom 16:13)
2.
The cross can save any
home – like the Philippian Jailor
3.
It changed Simon’s nation
(Acts 11:20)
4.
That’s why we preach so
much about what happened on that cross!
III.
Conclusion
A.
The ONE BIG thing the
Bible wants us to know about him was that he carried our Lord’s cross the last
part of the way to the hill just outside of
B.
WHY? Because Jesus told US
to carry our cross (Luke 9:23)
C.
As a
Spiritually Concerned Man
1.
He was concerned about
spiritual things – didn’t think it was wimpy or effeminate to be concerned about
sin, righteousness and the wrath to come, and preparing for it!
2.
No matter what religion
you may have grown up in, if it was not based upon the Bible of the Jews, then
you cannot even begin to understand the cross and what it is all about (John
4:22)!
3.
Decide to follow the words
of a Jewish Book called the Bible! That’s where God expects you to start! Not
with your own book on meditation or prayers, but from this Book!
D.
Carry the
Cross As a Compelled
E.
Carry
the Cross As a Crucified Man – As if it is YOURS!
1.
It will be an
embarrassment! A shame!
2.
You carry it even when it
doesn’t make sense
3.
Carry it to the top of
that hill called Calvary,
4.
Carry it because you are
commanded to!
F.
Carry
the Cross Close to Jesus
G.
Carry
the Cross As a Covered Man
1.
By the time that Simon
picked up the cross, it was covered in blood – Jesus’ blood
2.
Remember, Jesus had been
so severely whipped that He was bleeding all along the way, and all over that
cross beam
3.
That blood was drenching
Simon now!
4.
Let that blood cover YOUR
sinful past and your sorrows and failures!
H.
Carry it As
a Captivated Man
– not forced to, but amazed and unable to turn away from it!
1.
Do you remember a day when
YOU saw JESUS dying on a cross YOU should have been on? And you ran to Him by
faith and asked for forgiveness?
2.
Never get over what Jesus
did for you that day!
I.
Carry the
Cross As a Changed Man
– You Carry A Cross as a Changed Man
1.
That day was enough to
change ANY man
a.
It changed the Centurion
Mk 15:39)
b.
And it changed Simon
c.
Two of his sons were
changed: Rufus and Alexander (Rom 16:13)
2.
The cross can save any
home – like the Philippian Jailor
3.
It changed Simon’s nation
(Acts 11:20)
4.
Let’s
let it change this nation too!