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Continuing our analysis of the penultimate chapter of Luke’s Gospel, this week, please read verses 26-33. If possible, use a different translation each day, asking God to open your eyes to fresh revelation from His Word.
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Luke 23:26 (New American Standard Bible – NASB)
‘And when they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.’
A couple of months ago I briefly mentioned the simple phrase ‘They led Him away’. Even though this is such a basic statement, it has such unbelievable depth of meaning and I’d like to share a little more about it.
In English, the true understanding of the phrase can change so much based on the context in which it is said. For example, let me paint a basic picture of a scene for you: Suppose that Cath and I arrive at a very nice restaurant that is located on the very edge of the beach overlooking the ocean. We are greeted at the door by the maître d’ and he says that we have a table reserved at one of the front windows. We are then led to the table.
What do you think is in our minds as we are led away? What do you feel when reading that statement.
Another scenario: A man is in court awaiting sentencing for a very serious crime. The judge hands down a custodial sentence and then the police officers lead him away. What emotions do this statement create?
Now read verse 26 again: “And when they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus”.
Do you feel the emotion that is being communicated in the verse? Luke chooses not to record what happened after Pilate issued the sentence. We do not read of the beating or the mocking or even the crown of thorns that was placed on our Saviour’s head. It’s almost as if Luke can’t bear to write the words but the Holy Spirit ensures that other writers record those events for us.
Such a simple phrase but it elicits so much meaning and emotion. The basic truth here is that Jesus is going through all of that just for us. He was determined to pay the price of our sin. As they led Him away is a phrase that encapsulates everything that Jesus was doing on our behalf. So very often we see things in a very simple way without really appreciating all that is going one behind the scenes. We sing a song occasionally with the line “Open up my eyes to the things unseen” As far as the Bible is concerned, we can glean so much information from the various gospels writers but still don’t really appreciate everything that is going on. Jesus knows exactly what is coming on the way to Calvary, He has been beaten, tortured, has lost an incredible amount of blood as a result of the crown of thorns being placed on His head and yet He continues to make each and every step with you and I on His mind. Our salvation is dependent on Him going to Calvary. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.’
At the start of this week, let this be our focus and rejoice in so great a salvation.
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