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Humble Hero
Simon’s sons were believers in the Savior, but he himself was
not. Carrying the cross to Calvary was a blessing to Simon. It led
him later to take the cross of Christ from choice and from then on
cheerfully to stand beneath its burden.
Many women were in the crowd that followed the Uncondemned
to His cruel death. Some had brought Him their sick and suffering
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ones. Some had themselves been healed. They were amazed at the
hatred of the crowd toward Him. And despite the angry words of
priests and rulers, as Jesus fell beneath the cross these women broke
out in wailing. This attracted Christ’s attention. He knew that they
were not mourning for Him as one sent from God, but He did not
scorn their sympathy. It awakened in His heart a deeper sympathy
for them. “Daughters of Jerusalem,” He said, “do not weep for Me,
but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Christ looked ahead
to the time of Jerusalem’s destruction when many who were now
weeping for Him would die with their children.
A Wider Judgment
Jesus’ thoughts turned from the fall of Jerusalem to a wider
judgment. In the unrepentant city’s destruction He saw a symbol of
the final destruction to come on the world. “‘Then they will begin
“to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’”
For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in
the dry?’” The green wood or tree represented Himself, the innocent
Redeemer. God’s wrath against transgression fell on His beloved
Son. What suffering, then, would the sinner bear who continued in
sin? The unrepentant would know a sorrow that language would fail
to express.
Many in the crowd that followed the Savior to Calvary had ac-
companied Him with hosannas and palm branches as He rode tri-
umphantly into Jerusalem. Many people who had then shouted His
praise because it was popular, now swelled the cry, “Crucify Him!”
When Christ rode into Jerusalem, the disciples pressed in close
around Him, feeling that it was a high honor to be connected with
Him. Now in His humiliation they followed Him at a distance.