Mark 15:21-24

Mark 15:21-24  A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.  They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).  Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.  And they crucified him.  Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 

This part of the crucifixion story reveals the total weakness of the man, Jesus.  His flesh had become too weak to carry his heavy cross.  The horrific beating and mistreatment by the Roman soldiers had taken such a toll on his physical body that He was UNABLE to complete the journey to Golgotha, carrying his cross.  Moslems do not accept this part of Jesus' life, for they believe that Allah would never allow such a great prophet to be so dishonored.  They reject completely that Jesus was ever weak or naked, and for sure He did not hang on a cross.  To them, God is not weak: He is strong, a controller of all things, and that is why Muslims believe all aspects of a society, a country, should be under the control of Islam, even political institutions.  But in the above passage, we see God clothed in a man's body unable to carry his cross to Golgotha.  We see Jesus, the Son of God, emptied of all his strength and authority.  He is not even able to determine to whom his clothes will be given.  We see Jesus void of his own will; he is now the innocent, harmless LAMB OF GOD, ready to be sacrificed.  Christ suffered, God the Father suffered, the Holy Spirit suffered that day.  What a heavy price for mankind's salvation!  

The book of Revelation infers not even the angels could understand such a plan of redemption.  But for us Christians, this plan: Jesus' journey to the cross and his subsequent crucifixion, brings joy to our hearts, for we understand fully that only through Christ Jesus' sacrifice could we be released from the bondage of sin and death, from the confines of this wicked domain.  The Bible indicates that God also found pleasure in this act, for He knew the end results of such a glorious plan of redemption.   For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his PLEASURE and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  (Ephesians 1:4-8)  God from the creation of the world understood that new creatures would come from the cross, bound to him forever as children of God.  What a love story!  For each of us, God has grasped our hands firmly into his.  He is leading us to his dwelling place.  On the journey, we tell him how much we love him, how much we depend on him.  And on the journey, He says to us, "I am with you now.  My strength is in you.  You will make it to the end.  In my house there are many mansions--one of them is for you."  Through Christ's weakness came God's strength: life eternal for us in Christ our Lord.  Praise the name of the Lord!