We’ve been looking at Jesus’ last moments before His eventual crucifixion on the Cross of Calvary. You find out that He kept reaching out to certain people and ministered to them. And finally of course, you notice when His mother and John were standing at the feet of the cross and Jesus was just about to die, He still cared about where his mother was going to stay.  He wanted to make sure that His mother will be well taken care of in His absence, as His mission on earth had come to an end.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27)

So he made provision for them even when He was in the midst of pain and suffering. That’s the reason I find it so shocking and surprising, that Jesus didn’t say a single word to the person, who in my own opinion sacrificed and helped Him more than anybody else: Simon of Cyrene.

For crying out loud, the man helped Jesus carry His cross at the point He was unable to do so. You could validly argue that Simon assisted Jesus to carry out the greatest mission for mankind ever. Yet, not a word was said to him. This is shocking, really!

I wondered at this for years because I know who Jesus is. I know His character; we see His attitude towards people in the gospel accounts of His stay on earth. Jesus is the Master of gratitude, the Master at caring, the Master of love; so how come that this man who, like I said, more than anybody else sacrificed and helped Jesus, never got noticed by him? Jesus didn’t even acknowledge him. It is just so shocking to me.