Title: Various Crosses (Matthew 27:32-44)
Content Just as there are many types of people, there are also different types of beliefs people believe in. Let's look at the various shapes of the cross shown in the text and reflect on the Word of our own faith.
1. Simon of Cyrene's cross (verse 32) His cross is a cross that is forced to bear. In other words, it is the cross of those who are led and reluctantly lead a religious life. Among people, it is like a faith that is dragged around because they cannot refuse the invitations of those around them, even though they do not want them at school, work, or home due to various circumstances. Therefore, according to the history of the church, this Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21) and later came to believe in the Lord. Even the cross that was first compelled to bear may sooner or later have true faith.
2. The cross of the robbers (verse 38) The cross carried by the robbers means suffering for their sins. They suffer because they love their money and pleasures, they suffer because of pride, and they suffer when they try to be accepted by others.
In Luke 23:39-41, one of the two robbers cursed the Lord and the other repented. Among people, there are those who curse God and perish because of the suffering they suffer because of their sins, and there are those who repent and be saved because of that suffering. If our suffering becomes an instrument of repentance, it is the suffering of blessing.
3. There are people who did not take up the cross from the beginning.
There are 'passers-by' (39) and 'high priests, scribes, and elders' (41). These are the people who only watched the cross of the Lord and did not take it up. Pedestrians are those who attend church, but do not intervene deeply in their religious life, but stand by and observe. They laugh at why they believe in Jesus so badly. And the priests and leaders are those who do not want to do difficult things and easily believe in Jesus and serve easily.
4. The true cross, the cross of Jesus A true believer who bears the true cross does not avoid difficulties in faith and service. The Lord did not drink wine on gallstones, which is used as an anesthetic (verse 34). He takes off all the clothes of camouflage, formality, and hypocrisy. The Lord was stripped and carried on the cross (verse 35). He doesn't care about other people's opinions. On the Lord's head was the inscription "King of the Jews." Hypocrites are very interested in their own evaluation (John 19:19). He is totally dependent on the Lord. “Because he trusts in God,” he said. The Lord was no longer able to receive any help from man. Those who bear the true cross depend only on God.
.