A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 15:21-47)

“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.” (See Mark 15:21-47 for full text)

In Mark 15:21–47, people responded differently as they observed the crucifixion of Jesus. A certain Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was forced to carry his cross. One wonders if the impact of this event led his family toward faith. The Apostle Paul perhaps confirms this in one of his letters (see Romans 16:13). At least one of the soldiers assigned to crucify Jesus confessed that Jesus was the Son of God. The text notes that criminals and religious leaders mocked him while he died. Elsewhere we read that one convict turned to Christ before death (see Luke 23:39–43) and a “large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). Some women observed the crucifixion from a distance. One prominent member of the religious council, Joseph of Arimathea, buried the body of Jesus in his own tomb. While the reactions were varied, even in death Jesus influenced the masses.

KEY QUESTIONS: What type of legacy will I leave behind? What can I do in life that will increase my influence after I die? Do I tend to avoid funerals and and the subject of death, or do I take opportunities to appreciate a person's legacy and ponder my life's purpose?