Matthew 27:32. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
It was too heavy for him to carry alone, so they bade Simon help him; and, truly, I think that Simon was thereby highly honoured. If this was Simon, who is called Niger, then there may be some truth in the common belief that he was a black man; and, assuredly, the coloured race has long had to carry a very heavy cross, yet there may be a great destiny before it. All Christ’s followers are called to be cross-bearers.
"Shall Simon bear the cross alone,
And all the rest go free?
No; there’s a cross for every one,
And there’s a cross for me."
If we belong to Christ, we must be as willing to take up his cross as he was to carry ours, and die upon it.
Matthew 27:32. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
It was too heavy for him to carry alone, so they bade Simon help him; and, truly, I think that Simon was thereby highly honoured. If this was Simon, who is called Niger, then there may be some truth in the common belief that he was a black man; and, assuredly, the coloured race has long had to carry a very heavy cross, yet there may be a great destiny before it. All Christ’s followers are called to be cross-bearers.
"Shall Simon bear the cross alone,
And all the rest go free?
No; there’s a cross for every one,
And there’s a cross for me."
If we belong to Christ, we must be as willing to take up his cross as he was to carry ours, and die upon it.