By Bobbie Dicking
Greetings Precious Ones of Our Father, we have come to the second month of 2025 February is the shortest month of Earth’s 12 month cycle. It has 28 days for 4 years and 29 days every 4 years which is called a Leap Year. The next three leap years are 2028, 2032, and 2036.
Some of the holidays in the month of February are President’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, Ground Hog Day and Valentine. And here in America all of Februaty has been designated Black History Month or Afro American History month. It has been a month set aside to recognize and celebrate the contribution and experience of Black people in America and worldwide. I have heard that the new president had plans to pull this celebration from the celebrations of its citizen.
My attention is always drawn to the Nubian personalities found in our Bible of which my favorite is the one mentioned above: Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and Luke 23:26; Simon of Syrene. He is the black man who was pulled from the crowd of onlookers and compelled to help Jesus bear the cross to the place of crucifixion
I find it amazingly powerful that a black man was called out from the onlookers to assist Jesus on His painful, humiliating climb up the hill to Calvary to be crucified and pay for the sin of mankind.
In my mind there is an amazing similarity in how Black people are called forth today to bear the cross of redemption for the world. The thought occurs to me that even this black man’s name weaves meaning to the story of redemption. His name was Simon. This black man is the source of much ponder for me.
I cannot help but wonder if Simon felt picked out unfairly because of his color. I wonder if he felt privileged to have been chosen to help Jesus bare the cross when he received the news that Jesus had risen from the dead. I wonder if he got any of Jesus’ blood on his clothing or his person as he was helping the bleeding, tortured Savior to the cross. (I believe he did).
Like Mary pondered the news that she was to bare the savior of the world, I ponder the meaning of the fact a black man was compelled to help Jesus bear the cross. I know this observation or the way I feel about its inclusion in the three synoptic Gospels may not be shared by others, and I okay with that.
Today I take pride in knowing a black man was chose to help Jesus bear the cross. Simon of Serene is my black history hero. Think about it.
1Peter 2:9 has this to say. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!