The Road To The Cross #1
Luke 23:26-32

A. The road to the cross is known, in Latin, as “Via Doloroso,” The way of Sorrows. It led
from the court of Pilate to the hill called Golgotha, the place of the skull.
The streets are crowded with Jews from all over the world to observe the Passover Feast.
a. Suddenly the streets are filled with shouts and the rattle of armor. Soldiers are beating and
shoving three men as they drag their crosses to the hill of execution. Leading the
procession is Jesus and He is a pitiful sight.
(A) Bruised, dirty with dried blood, totally exhausted. The night before he had been
betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, spit upon, scourged, crowned.
(1) Now, from loss of blood and sheer exhaustion and the weight of the cross, He
collapses and this grim procession comes to a halt.
Men stare, women weep, soldiers curse and the criminals take advantage of the moment to rest.
Isn’t that an accurate picture of life with all it’s ugly, sordid, brutality and sin? Does not this reveal the depth to which mankind has sunk in darkness of depravity and the loveless, selfishness of sin?
This world would be hopeless if not for the fact that we can look past this scene and see, in this fallen figure, the only hope and salvation of mankind.
In that crowd was a man named Simon from Cyrene, a city in Ethiopia. A Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover.
Just an innocent bystander. Stopped to see what all the noise was about when a Roman soldier grabbed him and forces him to help Jesus.
Not knowing who Jesus was, he felt humiliation, anger and resentment.
Helps Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha. Having done so he remains to the end.
By an act of God’s providence he is compelled to witness the crucifixion of Jesus.
How often has God used some compelling incident to bring us to Calvary?
Confronted with some irksome task, or some humiliating burden not of our own making. And we whine and complain because we don’t understand why God allows us to be put into such humiliating situations.
Yet looking back we see the reality of Rom. 8:28.
We later discover that it was that unpleasant chore that led us to Calvary.
I’m sure, that years later Simon realized this unpleasant incident was the greatest moment in his entire life.
Simon was privileged to carry Christ’s cross in the hour of His deepest humiliation. And this moment brought salvation to life of Simon of Cyrene.
He found the Crucified Christ to be inescapable. Forced into a decision.
In Mark 15:21, we are told that years later his children were Christians.
Jesus is just as inescapable for you and me today. With Jesus it’s always decision time. Matt. 12:30.
Lk. 9:23.
That calls for commitment and sacrifice. Crucify self so Jesus is supreme.
The road to Calvary is not a railroad taken by self righteous hobos riding on a glory train. It’s the road that must be trodden in the footsteps of Jesus.
1 Pet. 2:21-25. The road trodden by Jesus leads to the crucifixion of self, so that Christ reigns supremely in you life.
2. In the crowd along the street is a group of sympathetic women who begin to weep.

(1) Jesus says, “weep not for me.” Not being unappreciative of their sympathy.
(1) Never cold, calloused, unthoughtful. He loved humanity and healed their sorrows.
(1) Invited all who were weary, heavy laden to come to Him for rest.
(2) He’s saying, “Don’t cry tears for what’s happening to Him.” Because of this death and sacrifice you can have hope and the sure promise of salvation.
(3) Instead, shed your tears for the sin that made this cross a necessary altar of sacrifice. Because of your sin, the Lamb of God must die. Weep for yourselves. You may not realize it, but you sin put Him there.
(2) Brethren, isn’t this our burden also? Yes! But is it possible that we have forgotten that fact?
(1) Have we become so familiar with the cross that we can sit in soft pews in comfortable building and hear the story of the Cross without doing what He commanded, “Take up you cross daily and follow Him.”
(2) That’s the hard part. But, it’s worth what ever it takes.
(2) Beside Jesus are two criminals. Derelicts of humanity, menace to society. The takers who tear down, plunder, no morals. Scabs on the running sores of the world.
(1) Not surprising to see Jesus with them. He’s there in the place of Barabbas.
(1) What is surprising? He’s put there, not by the riff-raff of the world. He’s put there by those who profess to be decent, upright, moral and God-fearing.
(2) Those who professed the loudest to be the people of God.
(3) He upset their play pin of self righteousness. But, that’s not surprising.
(4) That’s what most do when brought face to face with Jesus. It disturbs them, and like Cain, they rise up and kill Him.
(2) Most don’t kill Jesus with the sword. Kill Him with indifference, disobedience.
(1) That’s the coward’s way isn’t it. But, that’s how most people do it.
(2) He makes us see ourselves and our sin. So we don’t want Him around.
(3) Isa. 53:12, says, “Jesus is numbered among the transgressors.” Do you know who put Him there? We did!
(1) Vs. 5. We are the ones who should be on the cross. We like Barabbas have been set free because another died in our place.
(2) Because of His perfect sacrifice we have Hope. He died in our place.
(3) The Via Dolorosa. The Road of Sorrows. The road of the Cross.
(4) It is the road to glory, victory and the only road to eternity. Above all things in life, make sure your feet are set firmly on that road. It’s the only road that leads to heaven.
(5) Acts 20:32

Spur - 11/11/2001 am