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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
with Jesus. The Saviour had borne his burden but a few rods, when,
from loss of blood and excessive weariness and pain, he fell fainting to
the ground. As he lay beneath the heavy burden of the cross, how the
heart of the mother of Christ longed to place a supporting hand beneath
his wounded head, and bathe that brow that had once been pillowed
upon her bosom. But, alas, that mournful privilege was denied her.
When Jesus revived, the cross was again placed upon his shoulders
and he was forced forward. He staggered on for a few steps, bearing
his heavy load, then fell as one lifeless to the ground. He was at first
pronounced to be dead, but finally he again revived. The priests and
rulers felt no compassion for their suffering victim; but they saw that it
was impossible for him to carry the instrument of torture farther. They
were puzzled to find any one who would humiliate himself to bear the
cross to the place of execution. The Jews could not do it because of
defilement, and their consequent inability to keep the coming passover
festival.
While they were considering what to do, Simon, a Cyrenian, com-
ing from an opposite direction, met the crowd, was seized at the
instigation of the priests, and compelled to carry the cross of Christ.
The sons of Simon were disciples of Jesus, but he himself had never
been connected with him. This occasion was a profitable one for him.
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The cross he was forced to bear became the means of his conversion.
His sympathies were deeply stirred in favor of Jesus; and the events of
Calvary, and the words uttered by Jesus, caused him to acknowledge
that he was the Son of God. Simon ever after felt grateful to God
for the singular providence which placed him in a position to receive
evidence for himself that Jesus was the world’s Redeemer.
When Jesus was thought to be dying beneath the burden of the
cross, many women, who, though not believers in Christ, were touched
with pity for his sufferings, broke forth into a mournful wailing. When
Jesus revived, he looked upon them with tender compassion. He knew
they were not lamenting him because he was a teacher sent from God,
but from motives of common humanity. He looked upon the weeping
women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for
yourselves, and for your children.”
Jesus did not despise their tears, but the sympathy which they
expressed wakened a deeper chord of sympathy in his own heart for
them. He forgot his own grief in contemplating the future fate of