Carrying the Cross of Another | Mark 15:21-32

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to Jim Kuhn from Sun City West, AZ. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. This one's for you.

Our text today is Mark 15:21–32:

And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him. — Mark 15:21–32

Jesus is weak beneath the weight of the cross. He stumbles. The soldiers seize a bystander, Simon of Cyrene, and thrust the heavy wood onto his back. Simon carries a burden not his own—step by step—toward Golgotha.

This is more than a historical detail. It’s a vivid picture: God himself, bowed under sin’s weight, and a stranger pressed into service to share that load. Then the mockery continues:

The crowd taunts, “Save yourself!”
The religious leaders scoff, “He can’t even save himself.”
The criminals beside him jeer in scorn.

And yet, Simon, an unwilling participant, bears the cross so that Jesus can advance toward Calvary, where every sin would be nailed away. Simon's forced compassion begs a question for us:

Whose burden should we willingly bear?
The lonely neighbor?
The struggling friend?
The newcomer in church?
The oppressed, the overlooked, the rejected?

We’re not called to carry Christ’s cross—that’s done. We’re called to carry one another’s burdens as he carried ours (Gal. 6:2). When you see someone bowed under life’s weight, don’t pass by. Step in. Accept the unexpected call. Shoulder their load—if only for a moment. Because in that act, you reflect the One who bore the world’s sin. So, who will it be today?

#CarryBurdens, #Mark15, #CompassionInAction

ASK THIS:

Why do you think Simon was compelled rather than volunteered?
What keeps us from stepping in to share another’s burden?
Who in your life needs you to “carry their cross” today?
How does bearing burdens reflect Christ’s love?
DO THIS:

Reach out today to someone under pressure—send a text, make a call, offer a meal, or simply say, “I see your burden. How can I help carry it?”

PRAY THIS:
Jesus, you carried the cross for me. Show me who around me needs someone to bear their burden. Give me willing hands and a compassionate heart. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
"Burdens."