Tired like Jesus

“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 NIV

I am having a conversation in my head and with some actual people this week. Sanctification is roughly explained as the process of living more like Jesus. We are supposed to try and grow through this effort. I agree that we can grow in faith, knowledge, patience, kindness and humility among other qualities. All of this makes sense to me as a goal. However, I think we leave an important part out of this equation.

What about day-to-day fatigue? What about regular old failure? Good Friday marks the day Jesus was crucified. I remember wondering when I was a kid why we called it “Good”, but that is a different topic. I have never really thought about it before, but Jesus needed help carrying His cross.

The bible specifically mentions some people who were strong like Sampson. It is okay to be strong. It mentions people who were exceptionally wise like Solomon. It is okay to be wise. But most of the people we read about are marked by a common thread of being ordinary. It does not say that Jesus was a Crossfit champion. He was normal in that category – human.

Think about it, no part of His life was easy. He was a carpenter so He had working hands that were strong and callused. There were no grocery stores like we have. They had to grow or catch food. He slept on the ground, so I imagine His back hurt. He had co-workers. What if they were lazy or kept making mistakes that made His job harder? He had to pay taxes. Nobody likes to do that.

Why is this in my mind? Nearly everyone I know is human. We get tired. We get frustrated. We may not want to go to work. We get older and literally everything we do gets harder. I wear a knee sleeve when I work, selling insurance.

I have spent a large part of my life beating myself up for not working harder or being better or whatever I drum up in my own arsenal against myself. What if, in addition to trying to be more like the supernatural Jesus, I am supposed to relate to Him in my fatigue, in my failure.

Aspiring to grow spiritually is obviously a preferred outcome through the struggles of life. But I think I forget to show Him the ordinary, the tired, the frustrating, the bills, the paycheck, the on and on of daily living. I forget that He knows what it is like to be human.

Now picture Jesus carrying His cross to His impending crucifixion. He was beaten, tired, and bleeding. He couldn’t do it anymore. Then we read about Simon of Cyrene. He wasn’t there to help specifically. He was coming in from the country. I do not know how willing he was to help. I read that he was forced to help. But a regular human had to help our Savior in His human condition.

I have been both, the bystander in a position to help and the person crushed under the weight of the cross Jesus wants me to carry. When needed, God has placed people in my life to help. Some were enthusiastic. I am sure that some were not. Sometimes I get too busy and miss the friend struggling with the weight they are carrying. Sometimes I notice. What is my response?

All believers want to be more like Jesus in the spiritual. But many of us forget to relate to Him when we fall flat on our face.

Why do I assume that I should look at fatigue or stressors in my life as out of place when Jesus clearly would have had some of the same?

Challenge: Look around your life. Today you may have the opportunity to be Simon and help. But you may be the person needing help while surrounded by people who would be compelled to if you only let them see you fail.

Rick Claiborn