I've entitled the message for
this evening, Simon Bearing the Cross. Now one morning, a man by the
name of Simon, who was from Cyrene, which was in northern Africa,
was leaving Jerusalem. We do not know why he was there,
But at this time he was leaving, perhaps he was there to observe
the Passover, because the Passover had just ended. And Mark gives
us a detail about this man that neither Matthew or Luke give. He tells us that this man, Simon,
was the father of Rufus and Alexander. Presumably, people Mark believed,
his readers, would know or at least had heard of. I believe
these men were leaders in the early church. This could have
been the same Rufus that Paul speaks of in Romans chapter 16
when he said, salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord. And Alexander could
be Alexander of Niger, the prophet mentioned in Acts chapter 13. But I believe these men were,
Alexander and Rufus, people that those that Mark was writing to
would have known. And this was before any of the
writings of the New Testament had taken place, and they were
just hearing the Old Testament scriptures and word of mouth
of what had taken place. And I have no doubt that Simon
had told these two men, Rufus and Alexander, precisely what
had taken place. Now, we don't know if the Lord
saved this man, Simon, after this. I like to think he did,
but the scripture remains silent on whether or not this man was
a man whom the Lord saved. But as he was making his way
out of Jerusalem, that's pointed out, he was headed out of town. He comes across a procession.
There was a man that he didn't know, bearing a cross on his
way out of Jerusalem, going up Golgotha's Hill, called in the
scripture, the place of the skull. And he was carrying the cross
that he was to be crucified on. The Roman method of execution
reserved for the vilest of criminals. A Roman citizen could not be
crucified. This was reserved only for the
vilest of criminals. And this man had pressed upon
his head a crown of thorns. His face was swollen and bloody
from being beaten And having the hair torn out of his beard,
he had a crown of thorns pressed upon his head. His back had been
lacerated by the cat of nine tails, and he's not had anything
to eat or drink for some time. And here he is carrying this
heavy piece of wood after already going through all this physical
torment. He's either going too slow for
the soldiers or perhaps he collapses underneath the weight of the
cross he was bearing and the soldiers stop Simon. Dead in his tracks. They had
the right to do that. A Roman soldier could demand for you
to carry something. Remember when the Lord says,
if somebody asks you to go a mile, go two? He was talking about
the Roman soldiers asking them or telling them to carry their
load for a mile, they could do that. And they were in their
rights to tell Simon to bear this cross. The scripture says
they laid hold upon him and they compelled him. They forced him
to bear the cross. Simon didn't want to do this. Simon did not volunteer for this.
He was compelled. He was forced to bear the cross
of the Lord Jesus Christ up Golgotha's hill. Now, when he arrived at
the top of the hill, where the Lord was to be crucified, perhaps
he saw them throw the Lord down on that cross and nail his hands
and feet to the cross. Perhaps he saw them lift up that
cross in the air and drop it in the stand. He may have even
heard the seven sayings of the Savior from the cross. He was
there. I love to think of those seven
sayings. Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. And
understand this, everybody he prayed for was forgiven. And then he looked at his mother
and said, woman, behold thy son. Referring to John and then he
said to John behold thy mother and he took her into his home
at that time Then he Said I thirst Oh The depth there is in that
and then when the Sun was darkened and no one could see I He cried
out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I believe Simon
heard that. Simon heard him say to that thief
hanging on the cross beside of him, today thou shalt be with
me in paradise. Simon heard the gospel, didn't
he? Simon heard the Lord's cry. It is finished Simon Heard him
say father into thy hands. I commend my spirit He was there
when the Sun quit shining He felt the earth quake that took
place and Perhaps he even heard the words of the centurion after
Christ died. Surely this man was the son of
God. Now this man was privileged. And let me underscore the word
privileged. This man was privileged to bear
the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did he believe? We're not told,
but he was privileged and I think he did. I think the fact that
his sons are mentioned tells us that he was somebody the Lord
saved and he saved his sons and Mark knew everybody would know
about them, who they were. I believe he was. Does the scripture
say certainly that he was? No, it doesn't. But I think just
the names of his two sons imply that he was. But what a privilege
of grace he was given to bear the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
He was privileged to have some small part in the focal point
of all history. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Now, this is
the most evil thing to ever take place. Amen? There's no question. This is
the most evil thing to ever take place when men were left to themselves
and they got to do what they wanted to do and they murdered
the Son of God. And I want you and I to understand
this. If we die outside of Christ, this is what we individually
will be charged with. You see, If you were in the Roman's place
unrestrained by the grace of God today, you and I would do
the same thing. Don't say, well, I didn't do
it. You would have. I would have. And that is what
every man will be held responsible for. That's why hell is eternal,
because men have killed God's son. And God's satisfaction can
never be had in the death of that sinner. That's an infinite
evil, and no man can ever pay the debt. But not only is this
the most evil thing to ever take place, it's the most infinitely
glorious thing to ever take place. The most God-like thing God has
ever done. To have his son nailed to a cross. as the substitute for sinners. Hanging between two thieves. Now, I hope this doesn't become
cliche to any of us. Scares me to death to think of
that. But this is the subject of the Eternities. I still am amazed at that verse
of scripture, the Lamb having been slain from the foundation
of the world. Before the creation, before the
stars ever shined, before there was a universe, before there
was time, before there was matter, when all there was was God in
the Trinity of His sacred persons, Jesus Christ was the Lamb having
been slain, not the lamb that would be slain, but the lamb
having been slain. And that is in the perfect tense,
perfectly completed, never to be repeated. When God purposes
something, it's already done. And he is the lamb slain from
the foundation of the world. And in eternity future, when
time is no more, What will be the song of the church? Worthy
is the lamb that was slain. And the cross is the whole counsel
of God. And the reason for all things. The reason for creation is the
cross. The reason for the fall of Adam
is for the cross. Every attribute of God is fully
displayed in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why
this is so glorious. This is who God is. His justice,
His punishment of sin, His mercy, His grace, His sovereignty, His
power, all is manifest in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn with me for a moment to
Psalm 85. Now, the cross is the manifestation
of the character of God. There is no knowing God apart
from the cross of Jesus Christ. You can't know who he is. The
cross is the manifestation of his character. The cross is the
manifestation of the character of man, the true character of
man, what you and I are by nature. And the cross is a manifestation
of God's salvation. Now, this beautiful scripture
in Psalm 85, verse 10, mercy. and truth are met together. Where? In the cross. Righteousness, utter, absolute
righteousness, unbending righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Where? The cross of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Look what verse 11 says, truth
shall spring out of the earth. That's the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead. There's the truth. Truth shall
spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
God is pleased. THIS MEETING PLACE TOOK PLACE
ON THE CROSS. THIS IS WHERE GOD IS JUST AND
JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY. THIS IS HOW CHRIST CAN SAY WITH
REGARD TO THAT SELF-CONDEMNED PUBLICAN, BEATING ON HIS BREAST,
CRYING, GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME, THE SINNER. CHRIST CAN SAY, I
SAY UNTO YOU, THAT MAN WENT DOWN TO HIS HOUSE, without guilt, without sin, a
perfect standing before the holy law of God. Now, Paul said that
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness. Somebody says this is foolishness. To them that perish, it is. But
unto us which are saved, It's the very power. It's the very
omnipotence of God. I, you know, those seven sayings,
we see the whole gospel in that. Father, forgive them. Why? Because
of the cross. Woman, behold thy son. Behold
your mother. Here we have love, Christian
love. Why? Because of the cross of
the Lord Jesus Christ. I thirst the sufferings of Christ
in the room instead of his people. My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me? And remember, Simon heard this,
I believe. I know why he forsook him, because God is holy and
Christ was made sin and bore the sins of his people. And this
is why he could say to that thief, today you'll be with me. in paradise. This is the meaning
of it is finished. On Calvary's tree, he finished
the salvation of everybody he represented. And oh, the greatest
act of faith ever known, into thy hands, I commend my spirit. And he yielded up the ghost. Paul spoke of the offense of
the scandal of the cross. And the most scandalous thing
I know of is that I'm gonna stand among the redeemed. That's scandalous. And the reason is because of
the scandal of the cross. How I love Paul's words, God
forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. What a privilege Simon was given
to bear this cross. And not only was Simon given
this privilege of bearing the cross of the Son of God, but
he gives us a beautiful picture of what is known as irresistible,
invincible grace. Now, let me try to start this
illustration of his irresistible grace, and that's a good term.
That's a good term. Grace that saves is what that
means. Grace is not an offer. God doesn't offer you grace.
God doesn't throw grace out there and it's up to you to accept
it or reject it. No, God's grace is saving grace. Now, one of
my favorite commentators, John Gill, he was self-taught, self-educated,
and he became an expert in the Hebrew language. And he was known
worldwide for his abilities in the Hebrew language. And if you
ever read his commentaries, I'll wear you out. You know, I mean,
I like what he says, but boy, I about fall asleep on all the
Rabbi Ben-Kemichi and Abel Ezra and all what they, but he did,
he said this, he was given an honorary doctorate. He didn't
have, he was self-taught, but he was given an honorary doctorate
late in his life. And here's what he said about
that doctorate. I neither thought it, sought it, or bought it. That's the way grace works. I neither, neither thought it,
sought it, or bought it. I didn't pay for it. Now, Simon
didn't think, I want to bear the cross. He didn't seek this. I dare say at first, he was an
unwilling participant. This was forced upon him and
he gave no money. He did not pay for this blessed
privilege. Now, whether or not he was saved,
and I've said I like to think he was, but he never thought
of being saved. When he was on the way out of
Jerusalem, he wasn't thinking, I want to be saved. He didn't
think it. He wasn't seeking it. He was
seeking to lose, to leave Jerusalem. He certainly didn't pay for it.
And what this reminds us of is that salvation is by grace. It's not an offer. Understand
this it's not an offer. That's the way most people present
the grace of God here. It's offered to you Now you won't
accept it. Are you gonna reject it here?
It is out there and offer. No God's grace is not an offer
God's grace saves just like Simon was laid hold of And He was caused
to bear that cross. The Lord Jesus Christ, by His
grace, lays hold of sinners and saves them by His grace. If you're saved by the grace
of God, He laid hold upon you. with irresistible and invincible
grace, you found Christ to be irresistible. Now listen to this.
You didn't choose to believe any more than you chose to be
conceived. How much did you have choice involved in this thing
of your conception and life? You did not choose. You believe because you have
no choice. There are no other options. That is why you believe. Now, here is the result of irresistible
grace. Would you turn with me for a
moment to Matthew chapter 16? We can't think of Simon bearing
the cross without thinking of this. Now, here's what happens in irresistible
grace. Verse 24, Your will has changed. You go from, we will not come
to him, we will not have this man to reign over us, and the
will is changed, if any man will come to me. Now, this is after
the Lord had made himself known through Peter, And Peter's great
confession, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Now
look in verse 21, from that time forth began Jesus to show unto
his disciples how that he must go. unto Jerusalem, just like
it was ordained before the foundation of the world. That's why He must
go to Jerusalem. The only reason the Son of God
must do anything is He must do the Father's will. And He must
go to Jerusalem. He must suffer many things of
the elders and the chief priests and the scribes. He must be killed
and he must be raised again the third day. Well, then Peter took
him and began to rebuke him. Poor old Peter. Saying, be it
far from thee, Lord. This shall not be unto thee.
Peter, the only hope you have of being saved is him doing this.
You have no idea what you're saying at this time. But he thought,
Lord, save yourself. Don't let this happen to you.
Now, this same one who the Lord had said previously in this chapter,
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I'll build my church, this
confession of me. And I would imagine if the Lord
said something like that to me or you, our chest would be coming
out, we'd be... Yeah. Now look what he says. But he turned and said unto Peter,
get thee behind me. Satan. Don't think that Satan cannot
have a great influence on believers. He does. And the Lord says to
Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan. Now, Peter was safe. Peter belonged
to the Lord. You remember when the Lord told
him, Satan has asked permission to have you, that he may sift
you as wheat? He said, but I pray for you.
Now, if the Lord prays for you, you didn't pray, I pray that
you're not sifted. Peter needed to be sifted. It
was all a part of God's purpose. But he said, I pray for you that
your faith fail not. So when we read of the Lord saying
this to Peter, don't think, well, could Peter have been overcome
and destroyed by Satan and lost forever? No, he couldn't have.
But the Lord still says, get thee behind me, Satan. Look what he says. Thou art an
offense unto me. This thing of you not want me
to go to the cross, I find that offensive, Christ said. This
was his purpose for coming. This is why he came in the first
place. This is gonna glorify his father. This is gonna completely
save his people. Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him, what joy he received in going to the cross as the sinner
substitute for the glory of God, for the salvation of his people.
Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offense unto me, for thou
savest not the things that be of God, but those that be of
men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
if any man will come after me. Oh Lord, I want to come after
you. That's what I want to do. That's what every believer wants
to do. Your will has been changed. There was a time when you, as
the Lord said, you will not come to me that you might have life,
but that will has been changed and you now want to come after
him. Now that is irresistible grace. You're made to find Jesus Christ
irresistible. That's irresistible grace. Somebody
says, does irresistible grace, and look, that's a good term,
irresistible grace. And the reason it's a good term
is people know what you mean when you say it. This is grace that can't
be resisted. This is saving grace. Now, don't
think that irresistible grace means the Lord grabs them by
the hair of the head and just drags them along against their
will, although that's partly true. It's partly true, but he
makes you willing in the day of his power. Psalm 110.3 says,
thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. Now, if
any man come after me, and this is what Simon represents, what
does the Lord say? If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. If any man will come after me. What's he called on to do first?
Let him deny himself. The greatest enemy that I have
is called self. Greatest enemy I have. It's not
somebody outside of me. The greatest enemy I have, his
name is self. We use the term selfish, and
we usually use it toward others. They're selfish. Wrong person. Self-ish. Self-righteous. self-vindicating,
self-justifying, self-promoting, self-seeking. And what are we called upon to
do with this ugly monster called self? Deny self. And my dear friend, that's not
something that's just done once. I'm called upon to do that every
second. If any man will come after me,
let him deny self. Self's biggest enemy you have,
self's biggest enemy I have. And what does he do? He says,
let him deny himself and take up his cross. Now, this is a
phrase everyone uses with regard to their trials and their troubles.
I've got a cross to bear. My cross to bear may be financial
problems or health problems. It might be problems with people. It might be inner struggles. Oh, it's the cross God has laid
on me. I've got a cross to bear. Now
listen to me. That has absolutely nothing to
do with what the Lord is talking about. When people talk about,
I've got this cross to bear and this cross that's been laid upon
me, that's not what the Lord's talking about. He said, you take
up this cross, not a cross that's laid upon you. You are to take
up this cross, willingly take up this cross. If you will come
after him, You deny yourself and here's what happens when
you deny yourself. You willingly take up the cross. Now that's
not talking about the piece of wood. That's talking about the
cross. What the cross represents. God
forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ. You take up your cross when you
take up what the cross says as your only hope of being accepted
before God, and you don't have anything else. That's when you
take up the cross. You take up the cross when you take up the
message of the cross and every difficulty that will be brought
on into your life because you confess this message, the Christ
of the cross. You take up the cross when you
confess what the cross declares, the true character of God. THE
TRUE CHARACTER OF MAN, AND THE TRUE CHARACTER OF SALVATION,
JESUS CHRIST IS SALVATION. THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU TAKE
UP THE CROSS, AND THAT'S A CROSS THAT WILL NOT BE LOVED BY THIS
WORLD. BUT YOU TAKE UP THAT MESSAGE EVEN BEFORE THIS HOSTILE WORLD. IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME,
LET HIM DENY HIMSELF. TAKE UP HIS CROSS. Don't you
want to take up the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ? Confess
Him. Confess the message of the gospel.
And here's what you do in doing that. He said, and follow me. That's what you want to do. You
want to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I know
this for sure about following Christ. The only way you can
follow him is by looking to him and not anything else. Not looking
to yourself, not looking to others. You look to him only. And you look nowhere else. Simon headed outside of Jerusalem. He had no idea what was going
to happen to him that day, but he was given the great privilege,
we're reading about him now, of bearing the cross of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And the greatest privilege of
grace you and I can have is to bear the cross of the Lord Jesus
Christ. May God give us grace to do that. Let's pray. Lord, we would come after thee. And Lord, we ask for grace. Oh,
Lord, only your grace can cause this. But we ask for grace to
deny ourself. And to take up this cross, this
confession of your gospel before men who have no love for this
message. And we ask that we might be enabled
to follow thy dear son, to look to him only as everything in
our salvation. May you do this for us and in
us for Christ's sake, in his name we pray, amen. Drew Cummings,
I'm closing here. If you haven't already picked
it, I think When I Survey the Wonder's Cross would be a great
hymn to sing. Let's sing that. Hymn number 118. Number 118. When I survey the wondrous cross,
on which the Prince of My richest gain I count but loss,
And poor contempt on all my pride. ? Forbid it, Lord, that I should
boast ? ? Save in the death of Christ my God ? ? All the vain
things that charm me most ? ? I sacrifice them to His blood ? See from
his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flowing cold
down. Did e'er such love and sorrow
meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? ? Were the whole realm of nature
mine ? ? That were a present far too small ? ? Love so amazing,
so divine ? ? Demands my soul, my life, my everything ? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's not me with the t-shirt,
is it?