Partnership with Deity

 

Matthew 27:32 King James Version (KJV) And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

 

A lot of people have a misconception of who Jesus Christ really was. They feel that he was just a ‘man,’ but due to His divine nature could do anything he wanted without the pain and struggle we would experience if we tried to do the same thing. This isn’t true, Jesus definitely had limitations in his flesh.

I understand these are terms not usually associated with God, but understand that, even in the toughest of circumstances, God always has a plan.

For instance, look at: The Red Sea, Jericho, the three Hebrew boys, and David and Goliath. God has never been limited by anything in this world.

Every creation has always been at the instant disposal of the Creator.

If God needed anything, it would not be us, but He chose to work through humanity.

Many of the miracles recorded were not only for humans, but were done through humans.

Salvation came through the line of humanity in Jesus.

Let’s take a look at what is happening in our text:

 

God was robed in flesh as Jesus Christ, making all kinds of miracles to happen, which caused Him to be crucified. As He was carrying His cross to the place he would be crucified, he was experiencing all kind of torment; physically, mentally, and emotionally. After hours upon hours of suffering, he finally reached a point where he couldn’t go any further without help. Right about that time, they stumbled upon Simon of Cyrene and Jesus compelled him to help Him bear His cross. So Simon, got under His cross and helped Him carry it up Calvary’s hill.

Christ is not only our perfect example, but also the example of God’s relatability to us.

 

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 King James Version (KJV)

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

 

Jesus couldn’t bear the cross anymore, so Simon helped carry the burden. We have Partnership with Deity!

 

Mark 8:34-37 King James Version (KJV)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

God denied himself the privilege of opting out of the struggle for our sake; He took up His cross.

As Isaac was a symbol of us, and the ram a symbol of Christ, so must we carry the very wood for our own sacrifice to our altar.

 

Philippians 3:7-14 King James Version (KJV)

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

We must know Him in His suffering, if we are going to experience Him in His power.

God needs you to help carry His cross.

Our world must be reached, but it will only be reached by carrying the cross up Calvary’s hill!