Meet Me At The Crossroads

Divine Appointments and the Cross of Simon

Matthew 16:24 (AMP) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

What is a Divine Appointment?

Oswald Chambers said, "God is the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments."

Dennis Rainey "A divine appointment is a meeting with another person that has been specifically and unmistakably ordered by God.

The Bible tells us to expect such things: In Psalm 37:23 we read, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD and he delighteth in his way."

• Whenever a person is seeking God they will often find him at a crossroads in their life.
• And everyone who meets at a crossroad will have a cross they will have to bear.

Here are some examples of Crossroads

1. At Pool at Bethesda – John 5
2. The woman caught in the act of adultery – John 8
3. Paul- Met on Damascus Road – Acts 9
4. The Leper-Matthew 8 – If you be willing

Simon from Cyrene

Today, a man named Simon from Cyrene. Cyrene is a large city in modern-day Libya.

• All Jews sought to make at least one pilgrimage to the holy city during the time of the Passover to celebrate and make a sacrifice at the temple.
• For Simon the trip from Cyrene to Jerusalem would have been long and difficult. 850 miles by land. 57 days to walk. 35 days by camel or horse. At least 6 days of sailing, plus 1 to 2 days over land.
• Simon went to worship and was met with a cross

Explanation of the Passover:

The 10 plagues in the book of Exodus

1. Blood | The waters were turned to blood – the fish in the river died and the Egyptians couldn't drink the foul water.
2. Frogs | Frogs swarmed forth, covering every inch of land and entering houses and bedrooms.
3. Lice | All over Egypt, bugs crawled forth from the dust to cover the land.
4. Wild animals | Hordes of wild animals destroyed everything in their path.
5. Pestilence | A fatal pestilence killed most of the domestic animals of the Egyptians.
6. Boils | The Pharaoh, his servants, the Egyptians and even their animals developed painful boils all over their bodies.
7. Fiery hail | Hail struck down all the crops in the fields and shattered every tree.
8. Locusts | The locusts covered the face of the land and swallowed up every crop and all the fruits of the trees.
9. Darkness | A thick darkness over the land of Egypt, so total that the Egyptians had to feel their way around.
10. Death of the first-born | All firstborn Egyptian sons (and firstborn cattle) died. Israelites marked lamb's blood above their door and were passed over.

Simon Carries the Cross

Matthew 27:32 (AMP) Now as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced into service to carry the cross of Jesus.

• Why did Jesus need help carrying his cross?
• Jesus' beating was so severe that He was unable to carry His cross.
• By the time Jesus was on His way to Golgotha, He would have been suffering from both blood loss and shock. His breathing was probably labored. His blood pressure would have dropped and His body was most likely shaking and trembling. His skin dangled like ribbons from His body.
• Often those who were sentenced were scrouged or crucified but really both.
• Jesus was scrouged - which means a tool with sharp implements lashed his back 39 times, because that was the limit.
• The romans soldiers had to get him to the cross and he could not die on the way.

Luke 23:26 (AMP) When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in [to the city] from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

• The key word here is behind Jesus
• What picture did Simon see, walking from behind
• He gets a first-hand picture of the scourging his back took
• Simon the Cyrene will be the first person to walk it out with Christ

Matthew 16:24 (AMP) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].

The Journey to Golgotha

Luke 23:27-28 (AMP) Following Him was a large crowd of the people, including women who were mourning and wailing for Him. But Jesus, turning toward them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

• People are yelling out and mocking Jesus all the way.
• Roman soldiers would have had to separate the crowds to create a narrow path for Jesus.
• The disciples are nowhere to be seen.
• The Jews just keep laughing and mocking.
• It is also inconvenient because now Simon is unclean
• Jesus' blood and other body fluids would have drenched the cross by the time Simon picked it up.
• Simon can't go to the temple to sacrifice the Passover Lamb.

Romans 12:1 (AMP) Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

• The very purpose for which Simon has come to Jerusalem is taken away. All his plans have come to nothing.

The Impact on Simon's Life

Mark 15:21 (AMP) They forced into service a passer-by coming in from the countryside, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.

• Finally, they reach the killing place outside the city, and Simon drops his burden.
• What happens to Simon? Does he stay and watch the slow death, or does he leave? The Scripture is silent, but the witness is very visible.
• Something happens to Simon that leads him and his family to faith.
• Something happens to his sons that makes at least one of them a significant member of the church in Rome.
• Something happens to his wife that makes her like a mother to Paul.

Romans 16:13 (AMP) Greet Rufus, an eminent and choice man in the Lord, also his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well.

Jeremiah 1:5 (AMP) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

WHENEVER OUR WILL MEETS GOD'S WILL, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A CROSS.

The truth is, Jesus chose the cross. God allowed Simon to carry the cross Jesus couldn't carry so Jesus could die the death Simon did not want to die.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever experienced a "divine appointment" in your life—a seemingly chance encounter that turned out to be orchestrated by God? How did you recognize it?
2. Simon traveled over 850 miles to worship at the temple during Passover, but ended up carrying a cross instead. How do you respond when God interrupts your carefully made plans?
3. What does it mean that Simon had to walk "behind Jesus" while carrying the cross? How does this image illustrate what it means to follow Christ?
4. Simon became ceremonially unclean by touching Jesus' blood-soaked cross, preventing him from fulfilling his original purpose of sacrificing at the temple. How does this illustrate the concept of becoming a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1)?
5. The passage notes that "the disciples are nowhere to be seen" during Jesus' journey to the cross, yet a stranger was compelled to help. What does this teach us about who God chooses to use in His divine appointments?
6. Scripture mentions that Simon's sons, Alexander and Rufus, became significant in the early church, and his wife became "like a mother" to Paul. How did one moment of obedience impact Simon's entire family legacy?
7. What crossroads are you currently facing in your life? How might God be preparing you for a divine appointment at this intersection?
8. The statement is made: "WHENEVER OUR WILL MEETS GOD'S WILL, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A CROSS." What does this mean practically in your daily walk with Christ?
9. Simon didn't choose to carry the cross—he was forced into service. How can we maintain a willing heart even when God's assignments feel compulsory or inconvenient?
10. The message concludes: "God allowed Simon to carry the cross Jesus couldn't carry so Jesus could die the death Simon did not want to die." How does understanding the substitutionary nature of Christ's sacrifice change how we view our own sacrifices for Him?

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