Luke 23:26 - 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.
In this passage of Luke, Simon was pulled from the crowd to carry the cross of Christ . . . behind Christ. Simon had to carry a cross that was not His own, and he had to carry it following the Convicted of men. This example of obedience, (as was Christ’s to death at His Fathers demand), will affect others, but it also shows the way we should follow Christ. We must pick up His cross and carry it . . . in His footsteps. Carrying His cross will cost us, as well as cost others in our influence, but we must look forward as the path of influence follows behind us. If we obey God, it will surely cost others more than it is going to cost us, even though to the Christian, that obedience is a delight, without cost. It is a sure thing that others in our influence will be upset, but if we obey God as we are commanded, we cannot, we must not, prevent the cost that they will have to pay and the cost that has become their burden. If we attempt to take on the full burden of cost, ours and others, then our spiritual life will stagnate, and while disobeying the Father may bring immediate relief to others, it will grieve the Lord. We have to have faith, and see, that in our trusting in Him, our obedience to Him, God will take care of those who have suffered because of our obedience. The consequences of our obedience to Christ, albeit to the detriment of others, is just not . . . our responsibility.
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