by Pastor Douglas Brauner

 Forever Changed

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

There are three individuals or groups of people who reject Jesus on his way to crucifixion.

The first person to reject Jesus is Pilate. His wife sent a message to him of a dream she had about Jesus. She warned her husband to have nothing to do with “this man.” Pilate then washes his hands. The Greek word Matthew used creates a picture of Pilate immersing his hands in water then shaking it off. He wants nothing to do with Jesus’ death.

The next in line are the Jewish people aroused by their leaders to call for Jesus’ blood. This group of people proudly declare that his blood would be on them. We hear the horrible words that Jesus’ blood would also be on their children.

The third group Matthew writes about is the soldiers. Deep in the confines of their own barracks, they mock Jesus, putting a scarlet robe on him, a rod-staff in his right hand, and then deridingly call him king. Then they take that same rod and strike him on his thorn-crowned head.

What do these three groups have in common? They chose to reject Jesus. Make no mistake about it, this was a choice. They didn’t have to do what they did.

However, there is a fourth person who enters the scene. His name is Simon.

“As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.”
Matthew 27:32 English Standard Version

Simon had no choice. Horrible consequences awaited him if he didn’t carry the cross.

We can wash our hands of Jesus’ death, reject him, or mock him. However, as Simon was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross, we are compelled to follow him not by soldiers, but by the power of God’s Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who daily calls us to follow Jesus, to pick up our cross. Simon’s life was changed because he carried Jesus’ cross. Our lives are changed as we also carry our cross and follow Jesus.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado