Via Dolorosa
Via Dolorosa means “The Way of Sorrows”. It is the path Jesus took to Golgotha, the place where the crucifixion took place. After the severe beating Jesus took and the massive blood loss, He was then expected to carry His own cross to the crucifixion site.
“The cross Jesus carried was likely made of two parts: the patibulum (horizontal beam) and the stipes (vertical beam). It is believed that Jesus carried the patibulum, which could weigh between 75-125 pounds. This immense weight, combined with Jesus’s weakened state, exemplified the physical burden he bore. Christ carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, while already exhausted, highlights his immense sacrifice. Our understanding of this weight gives us a more tangible sense of the physical suffering he endured.” [1]
After Jesus had walked a short distance with the cross beam, He collapsed. This is where Simon of Cyrene enters the story. The route stretched through the heart of Jerusalem, starting from the site where he was condemned to the crucifixion site, which has been calculated to be slightly less than ½ a mile.
What do we know about Simon from Cyrene? We know that “Cyrene was an African city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the region what we call today Libya. And we also know that at that point in time, in Cyrene, there was a very large Jewish community. And therefore, we can logically assume that Simon of Cyrene was a Jewish pilgrim who made the 1,500-mile journey from Cyrene to the city of Jerusalem in order to participate in all of the celebrations of the Passover. That was always a goal for any Jewish person living outside the region of the holy land, to be able to be a pilgrim to journey to the holy city of Jerusalem and there, to join in the great celebrations around the Passover.” [2]
Evangelical scholars and Bible teachers believe that Simon of Cyrene, by divine appointment, was brought to that precise spot at that precise instant because he could render help to God’s own son Jesus. It was no accident. Now, followers of Christ tend to forget that the hidden hands of God are always at work in our lives, interweaving circumstances, orchestrating events in order to produce some divinely desired result in our lives. God is always working in us and with us and through us. When we encounter those incidents in life that we can’t explain, we just simply write them off. But you see, the reality is that if we saw everything from God’s perspective, if we had all the facts as God has them, then we would understand that there are no accidents, or coincidences. There is only providence, God’s providence. God is in charge. God is in control. He is in control of your life and mine. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
[1] https://jesuschristsavior.net/how-far-did-jesus-carry-the-cross/#google_vignette
[2] https://thewordmadefresh.org/sermons/faces-and-places-around-the-cross-simon-of-cyrene/
No comments:
Post a Comment