Luke 23:26

Luke 23:26 says, And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.  A Cyrenian named Simon was commanded to bear the cross of Jesus part of the way.  We can never really bear the cross of Jesus completely, because we cannot die for the sins of others being guiltless ourself, but we are told to take up our own cross daily, dying to self will.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.  A great company of people, many the same ones who had praised Jesus on His entry into Jerusalem, now cried out in pity with and compassion for Him, because they had heard what a great Man He was.  Still, they did not see Him for Who He really is.  Many people today may see Jesus as a great man and prophet and feel bad about what happened to Him, but still not see Him as God's only begotten Son and the only Savior of mankind.  Verse twenty-eight states, But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  Jesus turned to the crowd and told the women not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves and their children.  Jesus was doing what He came to do, and those around Him were the ones who needed salvation.  Until and unless we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord, then we should be weeping for ourselves.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.  Jesus spoke to the women because the day was coming when people would say that women without children were more blessed than those who were,because of the coming destruction and suffering for the people of Isreal.  Verse thirty says, Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.  Jesus warned them that the days were coming when they would rather have the mountains fall on them than to continue to live with the suffering that was to come.  We have likewise been warned that one day this suffering at the hands of the world will come on Christians.  Verse thirty-one adds, For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?  Jesus was the green tree, and the people of Israel were the dry tree according to Matthew Henry.  If Jesus, an innocent Man could be put to death, then what would happen to those who had no faith in Him.  God did not spare His only begotten Son, so we should not expect Him to save us if we do not put our faith in Jesus.  Verse thirty-two states, And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  Jesus wasn't the only One going to be put to death on a cross that day.  Two other malefactors were going with Him, but Jesus was the only One Who was innocent.   We are all going to die one day, and some people may die for crimes they have committed, but our death will save no one.  Verse thirty-three adds, And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Jesus was crucified between the two malefactors.   In a sense, He was given the place of honor in death, but in truth, His was the only death that mattered.  When we die, if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then our death will cause a permanent separation from God.  Verse thirty-four declares, Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  Even as Jesus hung on the cross, He asked the Heavenly Father to forgive those who put Him there, because they didn't know what they were doing.  They thought they were just killing another man, not truly realizing Who He was.  This does not mean that God is going to forgive us today if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, because we now know Who He is.  Verse thirty-five adds, And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.  Those standing around Jesus, including some of the rulers, began to deride Jesus and call on Him to save Himself.  They thought they were ending Jesus reign, but they were just ushering it in.  Jesus was on the cross because He chose to be, and not because He was helpless to save Himself.  We must likewise put our lives in His hands if we are to be saved.  Verse thirty-six continues, And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  The soldiers also mocked Jesus,  offering Him vinegar to drink.  In effect, until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we mock Him.  Verse thirty-seven says, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  They still thought Jesus was coming to be the earthly king of the Jews and not the Heavenly One.  Many people today still have a misconception about Who Jesus was and is.  For many, even though they acknowledge that He lived, His life ended forever on that cross.  Verse thirty-eight states, And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Though they wrote it in derision, in the three predominant languages of those around Jesus that day, they proclaimed the truth.  Jesus Christ is the King of the Jews, and of anyone else who will put their faith in Him.