Rufus and Alexander (1)

God shall never forget every single thing you do for Him, even as if He never say ‘thank you’ to you directly. He knows what you do for Him and how to ‘pay back’ what you did. It happens to every one who did it from all their hearts. In one occasion He did it very well to Simon, the one who ‘helped’ Him bearing the wood that then hang Him on a hill outside Jerusalem, where he is crucified to death.
It all well written in the Gospel of John (19:17). This passage implies that Jesus carried the cross all the way himself. However, a man from Cyrene named Simon was compelled to carry it for Him. Gospel Mark calls Simon a passerby; Matthew says that the soldiers came upon him as they were starting out. Both Mark and Luke say that he "was coming in from the country." Mark further identifies him as "the father of Alexander and Rufus." Cyrene was in North Africa. Simon may have come to Jerusalem as a pilgrim for the Passover (cf. Acts 2.10), or perhaps he had come to Palestine previously and was living in one of the villages near Jerusalem.
But whatever happened with the background of this man, he then carried the cross to the hill where the crucifixion procession took place. I believe that day he witnessed every detail of the horrified scenery when Jesus died, the earth quake, the darkness that covered the area for about 3 hours, and must be in deep sorry, I presumed he cried on his knees over the death of the man he admired most.
One of Simon’s child, as noted in John; Alexander is not mentioned elsewhere, but Paul sends greetings to his second son (Rom 16:13) to a man named Rufus, "eminent in the Lord," and his mother. This tells us that the ‘effect’ of Simon’s faithful work in serving Jesus that day affecting his family..
The cost of bearing His cross has resulted Simon from Cyrene lots of blessing to his children and (perhaps) grandchildren. As what happened to Alexander and Rufus, they both gained all the blessings after what their father did in Jerusalem years back.
Simon’s decision to bear the cross is supposed to be our example in life. Its tough, heavy, burdensome, and takes time. It takes all of your heart, strength and mind to be able to do so. Yet the blessing and ‘pay back’ from God will be overflowing to your children abundantly.
Alexander and Rufus are good example of how an effective father impacting his family and children. If you want to see your children are blessed, keep your faith to Him and do His work he plot for you to do.
I don’t mean that to work for the Lord is because of the blessing. Because of His being He bless you already and will keep on blessing you. With due respect, please admire today to whom you will dedicate your life. God needs you to complete His mission in this world. Will you offer your shoulder to let Him know that God, here is my shoulder to carry the cross you have for me?
If not, consult your bible and your pastor. Your church must need lots of volunteers and activists to do the never ending activities and work at your local church. Just submit yourself and God knows what to do with you. Happy Easter.

Jakarta, 31 March 2010