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His bruised and mangled shoulders. Bearing this heavy burden, He advanced ^[1] through the streets ^[2] of Jerusalem towards the place of punishment, which was called Golgotha, or Calvary ^[3]. Two robbers^[4] were also led out to be crucified with Him.

But Jesus, exhausted by long fasting and loss of blood, fell under the weight of the Cross (Fig. 89).

Then the Jews, fearing that Jesus might die on the way, forced a certain man, named Simon of Cyrene^[5], who was passing by, to help Him to carry the Cross to the place of execution.

↑ Advanced. Although He was completely exhausted, first from the effects of His agony and bloody sweat in the garden, and then by His scourging, crowning with thorns, and all the other ill-usage which He had received.
↑ The streets. The procession was a long one. Four soldiers had to undertake and see to the execution of our Lord, and besides these there was a troop of soldiers to serve as an escort. This troop was headed by a Roman centurion on horseback, while two soldiers marched on each side of Jesus. Behind Him came the two robbers who were to be crucified with Him, and who are commonly known as the two thieves.
↑ Calvary. Golgotha is the Hebrew, and Calvary the Latin word for “the place of a skull”. The spot on which our Lord was crucified was called thus on account of the likeness which its shape bore to a human skull. It lay to the west of the city, near the walls, and was of no great height. It served as the place of execution of criminals, and it took about a quarter of an hour to get there from Pilate’s bouse. Jesus carried the Cross unaided until He broke down under its weight.
↑ Two robbers. As if Jesus were a common malefactor like these men.
↑ Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene was a commercial town of considerable importance on the north coast of Africa, where there resided a number of Jews. He was returning to Jerusalem from the country, and when he met the procession he wished to pass on, but the soldiers stopped him, and compelled him to carry the Cross, for they feared that Jesus would not reach Calvary alive, if He carried the heavy burden any longer. None of those accompanying the procession would touch it, for to carry a cross was the very type of ignominy. Even the rude soldiers, who would do almost anything for money, considered themselves above such a task. They, therefore, unjustly compelled Simon, a casual passer-by, to take the Cross on his shoulders, and, after that, he and our Lord carried it together, though, according to tradition, Jesus fell to the ground twice more before He reached Calvary.

[1] Advanced. Although He was completely exhausted, first from the effects of His agony and bloody sweat in the garden, and then by His scourging, crowning with thorns, and all the other ill-usage which He had received.

[2] The streets. The procession was a long one. Four soldiers had to undertake and see to the execution of our Lord, and besides these there was a troop of soldiers to serve as an escort. This troop was headed by a Roman centurion on horseback, while two soldiers marched on each side of Jesus. Behind Him came the two robbers who were to be crucified with Him, and who are commonly known as the two thieves.

[3] Calvary. Golgotha is the Hebrew, and Calvary the Latin word for “the place of a skull”. The spot on which our Lord was crucified was called thus on account of the likeness which its shape bore to a human skull. It lay to the west of the city, near the walls, and was of no great height. It served as the place of execution of criminals, and it took about a quarter of an hour to get there from Pilate’s bouse. Jesus carried the Cross unaided until He broke down under its weight.

[4] Two robbers. As if Jesus were a common malefactor like these men.

[5] Simon of Cyrene. Cyrene was a commercial town of considerable importance on the north coast of Africa, where there resided a number of Jews. He was returning to Jerusalem from the country, and when he met the procession he wished to pass on, but the soldiers stopped him, and compelled him to carry the Cross, for they feared that Jesus would not reach Calvary alive, if He carried the heavy burden any longer. None of those accompanying the procession would touch it, for to carry a cross was the very type of ignominy. Even the rude soldiers, who would do almost anything for money, considered themselves above such a task. They, therefore, unjustly compelled Simon, a casual passer-by, to take the Cross on his shoulders, and, after that, he and our Lord carried it together, though, according to tradition, Jesus fell to the ground twice more before He reached Calvary.

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