The Carrying of the Cross & Power

"Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called
GOLgotha)." John 19:16-17

“Where do you come from?” [Pilate] asked Jesus.
Jesus gave him no answer.
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said.
“Don’t you realize …I HAVE POWER…
I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
John 19:9-11

That first Good Friday morning Pilate was in charge. He was the 5th prefect of the Roman province of Judaea – the Top Dog in the region. Secular historians report that he was a cruel leader who was rebuked by none other than Tiberias Caesar a number of times for provoking and mistreating the people he ruled. But here The Big Man was afraid of Jesus. And, even though he was used to getting his own way, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to sway the angry crowd away from crucifying Jesus. So, exercising his authority, he handed Jesus over to the them.

But “they” – the raging mob – didn’t take custody. It was the Roman soldiers who took charge of Jesus. Imagine that: being in charge of Jesus. Jesus, the Lord over all lords and the King over all kings. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. The soldiers took charge of the One to whom all authority has been given in heaven and on earth. Jesus could call on His Father, and He would send Him more than twelve legions of angels. (That’s roughly 60 or 70,000 angels.) But He didn’t. He didn’t because He knew the power of the cross He was carrying to Calvary. He set His face like flint, not looking to the left or to the right. He was resolute in denying Himself, picking up His cross and trudging down The Via Dolorosa – The Way of Suffering. Jesus was determined to offer His body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to His Father. It was true worship. It was fitting worship.

We know that Jesus carried His own cross, but we also know that Simon of Cyrene was selected to help Him. Unwittingly, unknowingly and, maybe reluctantly, Simon entered the Passion of Christ, forever providing us with an illustration of what it looks like to deny self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. The REAL power is in the self-denial – resisting the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. The REAL power is in the taking up of the cross – embracing the instrument that can put these deadly sins to death. The REAL power is in following Jesus – imitating Him, becoming His follower, disciple, student and friend.

Take up your cross… because whoever does not carry their cross and follow Jesus cannot be His disciple and is not worthy of Him. These are tough words. These are Jesus’ words. Take His yoke upon you, the yoke of the cross, and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Buona Pasqua a tutti.