A Heavy Burden

 SCRIPTURE READING — MARK 15:21-32

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Rufus and Alexander, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

—  Mark 15:21

After I stocked up on supplies, my pack felt heavier as I made the long climb to Blackrock Hut on the Appalachian Trail. It was Good Friday, and as I struggled a bit, I was reminded of the terrible weight Simon of Cyrene had to carry on the first Good Friday long ago.

The Bible tells us very little about Simon. We learn that he was from Cyrene, a Greek city in North Africa, and that he had two sons. We don’t know what had brought Simon to Jerusalem, but we do know that some Roman soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. That grotesque instrument of torture could have weighed as much as 165 pounds (75 kg).

Toiling through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, Simon walked along near Jesus as he staggered toward execution outside the city. We don’t know what Simon thought about him, but what a sight Jesus must have been—exhausted, bleeding, and mangled from being flogged, humiliated, and brutalized. Though he carried the heavy cross, Simon may well have felt more sorrow for Jesus than for himself.

We too should feel sorrow for Jesus. Even more, we can be thankful for his costly love. And just as he gave himself for us, he calls us to choose his path of costly love and to follow him.

Lord Jesus, we can’t imagine the pain and suffering you bore for our sin. Help us to love and serve you with all of our hearts. Amen.

Early-Morning Joy

 SCRIPTURE READING — LUKE 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

—  Luke 24:1

On Easter Sunday morning I woke around 4:30 a.m. at Hightop Hut on the Appalachian Trail. Unable to sleep, I got up and hiked for an hour in the dark, carefully dodging the many rocks along the trail. Though I caught only a glimpse of the sunrise, I thought about the resurrection of Jesus as I walked.

Very early “on the first day of the week,” a few women who had been following Jesus plodded to the tomb where his crucified, dead body had been laid on Friday. Though filled with grief, they brought spices to anoint his body out of love and respect. To their astonishment, however, they found that the stone sealing the tomb was rolled away and that the grave was empty! Then, even more surprising, two angels in blinding white clothes greeted the women, saying: “He is not here; he has risen!”

Can you imagine the women’s surprise and confusion as they raced back to Jerusalem? Though they didn’t understand, they were bursting with joy: Jesus is alive! They couldn’t keep this news to themselves: they had to tell others. And the rest of the New Testament announces the same joy that these women discovered that morning.

Filled with this same joy, we too should share the good news of Jesus with the people we meet on the paths of life.

Lord Jesus, rekindle in our hearts each day the joy of your resurrection, and help us to share our joy with everyone we meet. Amen.

A Surprising Walk

 SCRIPTURE READING — LUKE 24:13-35

They got up at once and returned to Jerusalem.

—  Luke 24:33

On the Appalachian Trail, I hiked more than 10 hours one day to Elk Pond Mountain. Buoyed by spectacular views of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Moun­tains, I clipped along in the morning. But by late afternoon I was dragging.

That’s not how it was for two followers of Jesus, though, as they retraced the seven-mile journey back to Jerusalem from the village of Emmaus.

Luke doesn’t tell us much about them, but earlier that day they were deeply engaged in discussing Jesus’ death and their surprise about his empty tomb. They didn’t even notice when Jesus himself quietly joined them on the road. Hearing their bewilderment, Jesus challenged their understanding about him, clarifying that the Messiah came to suffer and die before rising again to enter his glory. When they reached Emmaus, they invited Jesus in to eat. And in the breaking of the bread “their eyes were opened and they recognized him” as the risen Lord! Then Jesus suddenly vanished. Forgetting all fatigue, they jumped up and raced back to Jerusalem.

Following his resurrection, Jesus was full of surprises, and they advanced his purposes in fulfilling God’s plan of salvation. Even today, though we know some things about the final outcome of God’s plan, we can’t be sure of all the details. So let’s be sure to keep worshiping and serving him as he leads us by his Spirit.

Lord Jesus, you are risen, indeed! Help us to be on the lookout for your ongoing work in our lives and in our world. Amen.

Moving Out

 SCRIPTURE READING — ACTS 1:1-14

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

—  Acts 1:8

Climbing “The Priest” on the Appalachian Trail was quite a challenge. Though it’s not the tallest mountain I have climbed, I struggled to the top. Sections of the trail were barely visible, forcing me to scramble over rocks in some places. The splendid views from the summit, though, were worth the effort.

The last scene of Jesus’ earthly ministry took place on a hill called the Mount of Olives. Jesus went there often with his disciples. After much walking over three years, they had reached a turning point in their journey together. There Jesus gave his disciples a startling command—to spread the word about him from Jerusalem to the surrounding areas of Judea and Samaria, and “to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus’ disciples were completely unprepared and unequipped to accomplish this task. But he also gave them a promise. After he ascended to heaven, he would continue to be present with them through the Holy Spirit. With and through the Holy Spirit, the disciples were to begin sharing the good news about Jesus to all nations.

The book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament show that Jesus’ disciples did that. And where they left off, new disciples took over, all the way down through generations of Christ-followers to us. Thankfully, we have the promised Holy Spirit to lead the way for us as well.

Lord Jesus, fill us with your Spirit to share your good news and love to the ends of the earth. In your name, Amen.