阅读经文 

在储备了物资之后，我一路长途攀登到了阿巴拉契亚山道的黑岩小屋，那时我的背包感觉更重了。那天是耶稣受难日，我有点累，然后我想起了古利奈人西门在很久以前的史上第一个耶稣受难日所背负的可怕的重担。

《圣经》中关于西门的记载很少。我们知道他来自北非的希腊城市古利奈，他有两个儿子。我们不知道西门为什么来到耶路撒冷，但我们知道一些罗马士兵强迫他背耶稣的十字架。那件奇怪的刑具可能重达75公斤。

西门在耶路撒冷狭窄的街道上艰难地走着，耶稣在城外蹒跚着走向刑场。我们不知道西门是怎么看耶稣的，但耶稣当时的样子一定很惨——疲惫，流血，被鞭打，被羞辱，被虐待。虽然西门背着沉重的十字架，但他为耶稣感受到的悲伤可能比为自己还要多。

我们也应该为耶稣感到悲伤。更重要的是，我们应该感谢祂那无价的爱。正如祂为我们舍己，祂也呼召我们选择祂为爱舍己的道路，跟随祂的榜样。

After I stocked up on supplies, my pack felt heavier as I made the long climb to Blackrock Hut on the Appalachian Trail. It was Good Friday, and as I struggled a bit, I was reminded of the terrible weight Simon of Cyrene had to carry on the first Good Friday long ago.

The Bible tells us very little about Simon. We learn that he was from Cyrene, a Greek city in North Africa, and that he had two sons. We don’t know what had brought Simon to Jerusalem, but we do know that some Roman soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. That grotesque instrument of torture could have weighed as much as 165 pounds (75 kg).

Toiling through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, Simon walked along near Jesus as he staggered toward execution outside the city. We don’t know what Simon thought about him, but what a sight Jesus must have been—exhausted, bleeding, and mangled from being flogged, humiliated, and brutalized. Though he carried the heavy cross, Simon may well have felt more sorrow for Jesus than for himself.

We too should feel sorrow for Jesus. Even more, we can be thankful for his costly love. And just as he gave himself for us, he calls us to choose his path of costly love and to follow him.