Taking the "Via Simonis"
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing the powerful scene on the way to Golgotha between Jesus, a group of sympathetic women, and Simon of Cyrene.
Text: Luke 23:26-31
Date: 01/25/2026, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 219
Description:
Jesus' trial is over, He has been exchanged for Barabbas and now more than likely carries the cross meant for him to His Crucifixion. Weakened severely by the abuse to His body, His Cross is laid upon a man named Simon from Cyrene, who follows Jesus, bearing His Cross, to Calvary. A huge multi-faceted multitude also follows Him, including a group of women who mourn and lament for Him as the solemn procession makes its way to Golgotha. It is then that Jesus turns to this group of sympathetic, well-wishing women and delivers one of the sternest personal warnings in Scripture. We will analyze Jesus' words and the chilling interpretation of His proverb concerning the nature of firewood. We will see in this both a warning of how Israel will be treated by Rome, and how God's fierce wrath will be faced by those who refuse to "repent and believe the Gospel". Ultimately, we will consider the entire scene, as a profound illustration of the only way of redemption and true discipleship. And in a phrase-- it is by taking the "via Simonis"!
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I. Introduction, John 3:18.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 23:26-31.
A. Context, Luke 23:4,14-15,18-20,22,25; Acts 3:14.
B. On the way to the Cross...
1. Focus on Simon, vs. 26.
a. Defining "they".
i. Looking backwards and forwards, Luke 23:13,25-26.
ii. Leading away to the place of execution, Num. 15:35.
b. Focus on Simon.
i. Introducing Simon, Rom. 16:13.
ii. Carrying Jesus' Cross.
2. The people of Jerusalem, vs. 27.
a. The great multitude.
b. The daughters of Jerusalem.
i. Looking at the words.
1) "Mourning" for Jesus, Mark 11:8; Luke 18:13.
2) "Lamenting" His suffering, Luke 7:12,32, 8:52.
ii. A circumstantial, experiential and emotional attachment.
3. A scathing judgment, vs. 28-31.
a. The stunning address, vs. 28.
i. The meaning of "daughters of Jerusalem", Zeph. 3:14; Zech. 9:9.
1) Those the women DO NOT represent, Matt. 27:55-56.
2) Those the women DO represent.
ii. The stunning statement.
1) "Do not weep for me", 2Cor. 5:21; Psa. 22:1.
2) "Weep for yourselves", John 17:5.
b. The horrors to come, vs. 29-30.
i. When it will be better not to be born, vs. 29.
1) An eschatological phrase, Luke 17:22, 21:6; Acts 2:20.
2) When barren wombs are blessed, Psa. 127:3-5.
3) A deep and profound suffering, Job 3:3,11,12; Jer. 20:14; Luke 21:23-24.
ii. The eschatological language of Hosea, vs. 30.
1) Looking backwards, Hos. 10:7,8.
2) Looking forwards, Rev. 6:12-17; Mark 1:15.
c. The "hard-hitting" analogy, vs. 31.
i. Explaining the analogy.
ii. Interpreting the analogy.
iii. Applying the analogy.
4. Interpretation of the warning.
a. Facing the wrath of Rome, Luke 19:42-44.
b. Facing the wrath of God, Luke 21:25-27.
III. Application
A. A plethora of "ways" not to take.
B. Taking the "via Simonis", John 14:6; Luke 9:22-26.
IV. Conclusion
