ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS

Passage: Luke 23:26-31

Key verse: 28

NIV

The Crucifixion of Jesus(A)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(B) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(C) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(D) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(E) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(F) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[a](G)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(H)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Crucifixion

26 (A)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were (B)mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, (C)the days are coming when they will say, (D)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 (E)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For (F)if they do these things when (G)the wood is green, what will happen (H)when it is dry?”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Simon of Cyrene (26)

Jesus was physically weak from the cruel abuse he had received. The cross he carried was heavy. Simon, a pilgrim from Cyrene in Africa, was pressed into service. Perhaps he cursed his bad luck. Then he found that his 'bad luck' was God's opportunity to the greatest privilege of his whole life--he could carry the cross of the Savior of the world.

2. Weep for yourselves (27-31)

Many people followed the grim procession, weeping. They saw Jesus as a young man, like their sons, and were sorrowful that his life must end so tragically. But Jesus saw how utterly corrupt the world had become because of men's sinful hearts. He would die for the sins of the world; but they must live in a world headed for destruction. They must weep tears of repentance and accept the gospel of forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, show me my sins so that I may weep tears of repentance and accept your forgiveness.

One Word: Weep for yourselves