LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Chosen in Weakness
It is incredible to think that a man, in his complete helplessness and utter weakness, can manage to impact another man's life in such a way that he is able to modify it completely; change his feelings, emotions, will, beliefs, his whole life!
When Jesus, our Savior, was on his way to the mount of the Skull, after having been beaten, scourged, spat upon by the Roman soldiers, and forced to carry a heavy cross on his wounded body, a man appeared on the scene who was passing by and, like the majority of the attendants to that "spectacle", his only intention was to look around. This man's name was Simon of Cyrene.
In the account that the evangelists give us regarding this scene, it is not possible to notice further details of who this man was. However, Mark gives us a detail worthy of consideration that sheds light on the life of this man and his family. In Mark's passage not only Simon is mentioned, but also his sons: Alexander and Rufus. This is very significant, because, later, in the letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Rome, he mentions, in his final greetings to the brethren of the church, a brother named Rufus of whom he says: "chosen in Christ". Who is this Rufus? He is one of the sons of the man who was forced to carry the cross of the Lord Jesus on the way to the crucifixion! His son believed in that helpless and weak man whom his father helped to carry the cross!
Simon did not see Jesus being anointed by the Holy Spirit in the Jordan River, nor did he witness the multiplication of the loaves, nor was he present on the mount of transfiguration. Simon did not see Jesus walking on the waters or overruling the power of death and calling Lazarus to life. He saw Jesus in his weakness and agony!
What must that walk have been like? What must Simon have seen in Jesus? Most likely there were no words spoken to each other. But walking beside Jesus, carrying the heavy cross, was enough for Simon. He saw the Savior of the world giving himself entirely, without reserve or measure, so that our salvation might be effected.
This is the power of the cross of Christ. It is superior to the effect produced by great miracles and evidences. In the most complete weakness it is capable of changing the life of a man, and more than that, also a whole family.