四月五日

把十字架擱在他身上，叫他背著跟隨耶穌。（路23:26）

我們從西門背十字架的圖畫，就可看到歷代教會的工作；他背著十字架跟隨耶穌。基督徒呀!要注意，耶穌這樣受苦並非使你不受苦。他背十字架，並非使你得以逃避十字架，而是使你忍受十字架的苦楚。基督豁免了你的罪惡，並非使你得脫憂患。記得這一點，準備忍受苦難吧!可是我們要想到，我們的十字架和西門的十字架一樣，並不是我們的十字架，而是我們背負基督的十字架，想到這一點，我們就可以得到一點安慰。當你的虔敬生活受到騷擾，當你為信仰受到百般侮辱的苦煉時，要記得那不是你的十字架，而是基督的十字架。背著我們主耶穌的十字架是多麼快樂的一件事呀!你背著十字架跟隨他，你有一位很好的伴侶，你所走的路已經有了你主的足跡，那個重擔上面已經有了他肩頭的血紅印記。那是他的十字架，他在你前面像牧人在羊的前面行走一樣。天天背起你的十字架，跟從他吧!也不要忘記，你是和他一同背十字架。有很多人說西門乃是背著十字架的一端，並不是整個的十字架，這是很可能的；基督背著最重的，有一根橫木的一端，西門便背著較輕的一端。你也是這樣；你不過只是背著輕省的一端罷了，基督卻背著沉重的一端。也要記住，西門背十字架雖然只有一會兒的工夫，但卻得到永久的光榮。就是我們所背的十字架，也不過是一會兒的工夫罷了!不久我們就得到榮耀的冠冕。當然，我們要愛十字架，我們非但不逃避十字架，反而以它為可貴的，直到它“為我們成就極重無比永遠的榮耀”。

April 5

"On Him they laid the cross, that He might bear it after Jesus." --Luke 23:26

We see in Simon's carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer.

But let us comfort ourselves with this thought, that in our case, as in Simon's, it is not our cross, but Christ's cross which we carry. When you are molested for your piety; when your religion brings the trial of cruel mockings upon you, then remember it is not your cross, it is Christ's cross; and how delightful is it to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus!

You carry the cross after Him. You have blessed company; your path is marked with the footprints of your Lord. The mark of His blood-red shoulder is upon that heavy burden. 'Tis His cross, and He goes before you as a shepherd goes before his sheep. Take up your cross daily, and follow Him.

Do not forget, also, that you bear this cross in partnership. It is the opinion of some that Simon only carried one end of the cross, and not the whole of it. That is very possible; Christ may have carried the heavier part, against the transverse beam, and Simon may have borne the lighter end. Certainly it is so with you; you do but carry the light end of the cross, Christ bore the heavier end.

And remember, though Simon had to bear the cross for a very little while, it gave him lasting honour. Even so the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross, and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, when it works out for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."