Monday, December 28, 2015

DAILY?READINGS: Esther 3-4; Zech. 13:7 to 14:21; Rev. 19:11 to 20:6

And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country…to bear his cross.  Mark 15:21

Simon, a Cyrenian, had travelled from present-day Libya to Jerusalem and was watching an assumed criminal in a procession being led to Calvary, the place of execution. Custom dictated the guilty carry His own cross but in a small mercy a surprised Simon was commanded to walk beside Jesus, with the cross now on his back. Simon’s family is mentioned here. It appears he was known to the gospel’s author. It does not seem strange to think he became a believer. When I get to Glory, I want to thank Simon for bearing the cross of the One who was bearing the load of my sins. —Arnot P. McIntee

The love that Jesus had for me, to suffer on the cruel tree,
That I a ransomed soul might be, is more than tongue can tell!
—J. Hall