被逼背十字架
耶稣被诬告、被捕、被带到巡抚彼拉多那里受审，罗马兵丁们将祂鞭打。兵丁用的鞭子是系着铅片、尖锐石子、或铁钉的皮条，每鞭打一下，皮鞭就会撕裂人的肌肤、猛地扯掉一块一块的肉；兵丁们又给耶稣戴上一个荆棘冠冕。这一切酷刑已经把耶稣折磨至半死，血流如注，衪实在没有力气背衪的十字架。
一个来自北非的古利奈人西门，“从乡下来，经过那地方，”罗马兵丁就勉强他背耶稣的十字架往各各他去。从乡下来到耶路撒冷的西门，大概也感到疲倦了，但他被逼改变行程、再次走出城外，是为了什么原因呢？是为了要替一个人背十字架，而这人被判了最残酷的十架死刑。
耶稣有没有与西门交谈或对视呢？我们不知道；但是，背了那个十字架后，西门的生命很有可能改变了。西门被描述为“亚历山大和鲁孚的父亲，”作者这样描述他，显示那些最早读到马可福音的群众，是认识这两个年青人的。西门和他的家人，会不会后来成为耶稣的门徒呢？肯定有这种可能性，因为耶稣从死里复活、升天之后，很多人都成为了祂的信徒。（参看罗马书16:13）。
你相信耶稣吗？
父神啊，但愿我们服事你，为耶稣的缘故，背负你呼召我们去背负的任何十字架。阿们。
马可福音 15:1-24
1一到早晨，祭司长和长老、文士、全公会的人大家商议，就把耶稣捆绑，解去交给彼拉多。
2彼拉多问他说：“你是犹太人的王吗？”耶稣回答说：“你说的是。”
3祭司长告他许多的事。
4彼拉多又问他说：“你看，他们告你这么多的事，你什么都不回答吗？”
5耶稣仍不回答，以致彼拉多觉得稀奇。
6每逢这节期，巡抚照众人所求的释放一个囚犯给他们。
7有一个人名叫巴拉巴，和作乱的人一同捆绑；他们作乱的时候，曾杀过人。
8众人上去求巡抚照常例给他们办。
9彼拉多说：“你们要我释放犹太人的王给你们吗？”
10他原晓得祭司长是因为嫉妒才把耶稣解了来。
11只是祭司长挑唆众人，宁可释放巴拉巴给他们。
12彼拉多又说：“那么样，你们所称为犹太人的王，我怎么办他呢？”
13他们又喊着说：“把他钉十字架！”
14彼拉多说：“为什么呢？他做了什么恶事呢？”他们便极力地喊着说：“把他钉十字架！”
15彼拉多要叫众人喜悦，就释放巴拉巴给他们，将耶稣鞭打了，交给人钉十字架。
16兵丁把耶稣带进衙门院里，叫齐了全营的兵。
17他们给他穿上紫袍，又用荆棘编做冠冕给他戴上，
18就庆贺他说：“恭喜，犹太人的王啊！”
19又拿一根苇子打他的头，吐唾沫在他脸上，屈膝拜他。
20戏弄完了，就给他脱了紫袍，仍穿上他自己的衣服，带他出去，要钉十字架。
21有一个古利奈人西门，就是亚历山大和鲁孚的父亲，从乡下来，经过那地方。他们就勉强他同去，好背着耶稣的十字架。
22他们带耶稣到了各各他地方（“各各他”翻出来就是“髑髅地”），
23拿没药调和的酒给耶稣，他却不受。
24于是将他钉在十字架上，拈阄分他的衣服，看是谁得什么。
Forced To Carry
"A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." - Mark 15:21
Jesus was arrested and brought before the governor, Pilate, on false charges, and he was flogged by Roman soldiers. The soldiers' whips were made of leather strings that had pieces of lead, sharp bones, or nails tied onto them. Each stroke of the whip tore the person's skin and ripped out pieces of flesh. The soldiers also placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. All of this left Jesus deathly weak and bleeding, and he could not carry his cross.
Simon, a man from Cyrene in North Africa, "was passing by on his way in from the country," and the Romans forced him to carry Jesus' cross to Golgotha. Simon was probably tired already, since he was traveling in to Jerusalem from the countryside. But he was forced to change course and go back out of the city. And for what? To carry a cross for a man sentenced to a most horrible death by crucifixion.
Did Jesus talk to Simon or look him in the eye? We don't know, but it seems that Simon's life may have changed after carrying that cross. He is described also as "the father of Alexander and Rufus," mentioned here in a way that suggests these young men were known by the community that first read the book of Mark. Did Simon and his family become followers of Jesus? They surely could have, because many people became believers after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. (See also Romans 16:13.)
Do you believe?
Father God, let us serve you by carrying whatever cross you call us to, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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