I didn't even know who he was. . .

I had just come from Cyrene, my home
a wonderful land where the sun shone always and
the nights on the plain were cool and clear

from there. . . to this place
this. . . Jerusalem. . .
a city in turmoil
these people, full of trouble and storm
and now, the Romans
oppressing them. . . adding to the fire

and this. . .
this. . . crucifixion. . .
a means of death so terrible that
not even the most hated of enemies
back in Cyrene would even think of
inflicting it on one another

but today, the streets are filled to bursting
the people are everywhere
on the streets, in the windows
wherever they could get a good view
I have asked them, "What is happening?"
They tell me, "He's going to be crucified today!
The Galilean!!  Jesus!!"

I know not the name,
but they tell me that he is to be crucified for
crimes against Rome
that he has preached rebellion, insurrection
and has even compared himself to Caesar
calling himself "The King of the Jews"

but yet others tell me that
he had not done those things
that he had healed many
that he preached a message of peace
that he preached a message of love
the love of a Father for his people

"He comes!!  He comes!!"
I hear the crowd begin to murmur,
and, I move to the front of the crowd for a better look

what I see both saddens and horrifies me

here is a man, this "King of the Jews"
a crown of thorns upon his head,
the blood streaming down his face like tears
a sash of purple mockingly draped across his body
and behind him,
he carried his cross. . . dragging it along the ground

many in the crowd revile and degrade him
they hurl insults and call him names
they spat in his face and slapped him
the soldiers had a hard time keeping the people away

but many also weep for him
they cry out to him "Save yourself!!"
but, he turned to them and asked them to not weep for him
but for themselves. . .

he stumbles. . .

the crowd gasps, and a woman rushes forward
to wipe the blood from his face
he smiles and thanks her before the soldiers drag her away

"get up!!" they shout as the whip comes down. . .

he gets up. . .

he
  stumbles. . .

"Get up!!" they shout again
and another lash of the whip. . .

he

f
a
l
l
s

he cannot go on. . .
he is tired,
            he is weak,
                       he will probably die here. . .

"You there!" one of the soldiers yells at me,
"Your name?"

"Simon. . . of Cyrene"

"Pick up this man's cross. . . you will carry it for him. . . "

and with that, they dragged me out onto the street
and laid the cross on my shoulders
such a heavy cross!
I was amazed that he could even carry it
how he made it that far I would never know

we walked for a while
before they had no more need of me
"You may go now" they said

and with that, they put the cross back on his shoulders
and continued to that place outside the city
Golgotha, they called it
"The Place of the Skull". . .
and there, he would die
to pay for his supposed crimes

I didn't even know who he was,

but,
when he looked at me,
I knew
that I would
see
Him

again

Art: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross
Artist: Unknown

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