SIMON the CYRENE
CARRIES THE CROSS-BAR
We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from
Pilate’s hand. . .
. . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by
the Temple guard
. . . and then Herod’s men
. . . and then by the Roman soldiers,
giving His+ back to the smiters
and His+ cheeks to them
that plucked out the hair.
+ + +
By the Temple guard . . .
Matthew 26
57 And they that had laid hold on JESUS led HIM+ away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. . .
66 What think ye?
They answered and said,
HE+ is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in His+ Face, and buffeted HIM+; and others smote HIM+ with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, THOU+ CHRIST,
who is he that smote THEE+ ?
+ + +
And by Herod’s men . . .
Luke 23
11 And Herod with his men of war set HIM+ at nought, and mocked HIM+, and arrayed HIM+ in a gorgeous robe, and sent HIM+ again to Pilate.
And by the Roman soldiers . . .
Matthew 27
26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged JESUS, he delivered HIM+ to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took JESUS into the common hall, and gathered unto HIM+
the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped HIM+,
and put on HIM+ a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His+ Head, and a reed in His+ right hand: and they bowed the knee before HIM+, and mocked HIM+, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon HIM+, and took the reed,
and smote HIM+ on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked HIM+, they took the robe off from HIM+, and put His+ own raiment on HIM+,
and led HIM+ away to crucify HIM+.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear His+ Cross.
+ + +
After being “worked over” by the rough hands of the Temple guard and then Herod’s men of war --- and after His+ scourging --- the Roman soldiers ,
is it any wonder that HE+ could not carry the cross bar through Jerusalem to Golgotha ?
How much BLOOD did HE+ lose from the beatings, the Crown of Thorns, and that muscle-ripping scourging ?
The wonder is that HE+ was still alive and able to WALK to Golgotha.
Yet . . . HE+ could have called 12 Legions of Angels.
+ + +
Early Christians’ 3rd Hour Prayer ( 9 a.m. )
at the time of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple
Heavenly FATHER, we come before YOU at this 3rd hour of the ancient day, the hour of the Morning Sacrifice in the Temple . . . that same hour that Your Beloved SON+, the LAMB+ of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world, was offered up on the Cross for our sakes.
We thank YOU for the Great Drops of BLOOD HE+ shed in the garden of Gethsemane, after praying all through the night . . . then facing the men who had come with swords and clubs to violently take HIM+.
Thank YOU, O Holy FATHER, that Your Beloved SON+, as the perfect SON+ of GOD, revealed Your power, saying “ I AM, ” causing the armed band of men to fall to the ground .
Yet, HE+ did not use this great power for HIMSELF+, revealing HIMSELF+ to be the obedient and perfect SON+ of Man . . . still loving His+ disciples to the uttermost, HE+ requested the armed men to “Let them go,” and thus, His+ frightened disciples could flee away.
For the humiliation HE+ endured for our sakes, we give YOU thanks . . . and also, for the answers that HE+ gave to those who accused HIM+ wrongfully.
Heavenly FATHER, we thank YOU for the times HE+ gave no answer at all to His+ accusers, as a Lamb led to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is silent.
|
W |
e remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate’s hand . . . after being mocked, slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard . . . and then Herod’s men . . . and then by the Roman soldiers, giving His+ back to the smiters and His+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.
+ + +
No comments:
Post a Comment