Mark 15:21

Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.  On the way to Golgotha, which means, The place of a skull, Jesus was having difficulty carrying His cross.   Since He is the all-powerful Creator, the only reason this could have been true was because He actually was totally human at the same time.  We may be saved by grace as followers of Christ and be a part of God's family forever, but we are still subject to suffer from human frailties, even though we sometimes act as though we should be exempt.  If Jesus Christ Himself was not exempt from physical suffering and frailties, we shouldn't expect to be either. A Cyrenian named Simon was compelled to carry Jesus's cross.   None of the disciples got this privilege, because like Simon Peter, they had abandoned Him.  If we are called on to bear the burden of the cross spiritually today, will we count it as a blessing, or like the disciples then scatter when trouble comes? 

Verse twenty-two adds, And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

Verse twenty-three continues, And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. When they got to Golgotha, they attempted to give Jesus wine mingled with myrrh, but He refused. The myrrh made the wine bitter, so even if it did lessen the pain some, it was still given as a form of punishment or disrespect for the person drinking it.  Sometimes, even things that should be pleasant can become bitter to Christians because they are mingled with sin, and we should therefore refuse them. 

Verse twenty-four concludes, And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.  After Jesus was crucified, the soldiers divided His garments and cast lots as to determine who would be able to claim them. They were hoping to profit from Jesus's crucifixion.  Of course, Jesus no longer had need for them, and the only value they had for those who got them was a material value.   There was nothing mystical about the garments.   We need to be careful that we don't just attempt to follow Jesus for material reasons, nor expect material wealth from following Him.   We are still called on to take up our cross daily, which means to die to self-will and self-desire.