"the Face of Favor" (Part 3)

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. (Mark 15:21-24 NIV).

J. Sidlow Baxter says that Simon was converted on the Day of Pentecost. We don’t know for sure when, but the “why” is apparent. The bearing of the cross of Jesus made an eternal impact on him. Simon must have left Golgotha and been troubled at the sight of what he had seen. Surely he couldn’t just shake those images. Over the next three days he must have spent a great deal of time pondering what he had experienced. It was certainly far different than he had imagined as he had dreamed of his pilgrimage in the years leading to that singular event in his life. It’s not hard to imagine that just fifty days later when he heard Peter preaching, he also felt the compulsion in his spirit that called him to faith and commitment. He went into very active and public service following that day. In fact, he is the Simon we later learn was a prominent leader at the church in Antioch.

I read a story about a monk who prayed night and day to receive the marks of the Lord upon his hands and feet. A vision was given to the monk where he was shown another mark on Jesus that most of the world had forgotten. It was the mark left on his shoulder from bearing the cross, falling under its weight three times. He was also told that if he truly desired the marks on his hands and feet, he must first have the mark on his shoulder!

There are two closing remarks in this little series about the face of favor and the difference it makes in our lives. First, regardless of what you have done, or not done, Jesus turns His face toward you in acceptance not rejection; forgiveness, not judgment. That’s the central message of the Cross. He died so that we might live. He suffered so that we might be set free. He paid our penalties in full! The second remark is that the cross we are called to bear can be heavy, perhaps even causing us to stumble and fall. Jesus intimately understands that! In fact, he has already prepared others to come along side us and help carry it! It’s strange that cross-bearing always precedes crown-bearing. However, it is the calling we all are asked to accept.

There is a verse of an old hymn that speaks to me: “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there is a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.” The original words of that verse are different. It went “Must Simon bear the cross alone, and other saints god free? Each saint of thine shall find his own, and there is one for me.” How about it? Have you taken up your cross? Come on, join me. It is a great journey. It is a path that leads to abundant life!