Luke 23:26-30

Luke 23:26 (KJB)
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

The scourging and the other blood letting by mocking had severely weakened Jesus in that He was unable to carry His own cross or maybe just the cross beam which would be nailed to the supporting post to form a cross. On the way out to Golgotha, they compelled a man named Simon who was of Cyrene. (Mark 15:21 KJV) And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. Cyrene was located where modern day Libya is. Cyrene was located on the tip, right on the Mediterranean. It was in the province of Cyrenaica. There were many Jewish colonies there. Simon was probably in Jerusalem because of the Passover Feast. Jesus was taken outside the city to be crucified. (John 19:20 KJV) This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. In the time of Moses, when someone was to be stoned to death it was to be done outside the camp. (Num 15:35 KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. Rufus is believed to be the same one mentioned in Romans 16:13. (Rom 16:13 KJV) Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Nothing more beyond the mention is known of Alexander.

Luke 23:27 (KJB)
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

This was not just another execution because the trial of Jesus had been watched very closely by many people in Jerusalem. Many people had also followed Jesus and His executioners to Calvary. Jesus had many women who were part of His company that had followed the procession very closely. (Zec 12:10 KJV) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. The women had been mourning this event and lamenting by singing songs of lamentation or expressions of sorrow.

Luke 23:28 (KJB)
But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

Jesus now begins to prophesy to the women that they should not be weeping for Him. He is telling them that they need to weep for themselves and also for their children. Probably most of those women are still going to be around for another 37 years and will have children and maybe grandchildren. Jesus is telling them they need to weep and be sorrowful for them. The reason is that what is happening to Him now is going to turn into a great time of rejoicing in just two days but what is going to come upon Israel in 37 years will be a time of weeping and sorrow. Their children will be around to experience it. Jerusalem will be surrounded by Roman armies and at least one million Jews will die.

Luke 23:29 (KJB)
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

Jesus then continues to tell them that the time of the siege of Jerusalem will be so bad that the inhabitants are going to physically eat their own children. (Lev 26:29 KJV) And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. This is why Jesus is pointing to the time when the people are going to wish they had no children because of the cannibalism which will be fostered on the children.

Luke 23:30 (KJB)
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

(Psa 125:2 KJV) As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. The time of the siege of Jerusalem will be so bad that the people will think they will be able to escape if the mountains fall on them for cover. It may be that many would rather the mountains fall on them and killed them than have to endure the Roman siege. They would be pleading for natural destruction instead of man’s cruelty. The same situation will happen when the Lord returns as unsaved man will think that the mountains falling on them could save them from the wrath to come. (Rev 6:16 KJV) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: When Jesus returns on the last day, there will be no escape or hiding.

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