Irony at the cross

Matthew 27:32-37
Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. ³³ And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, ³⁴ they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
³⁵ Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
“ They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”
³⁶ Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. ³⁷ And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:
THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

In these few verses we find foreigners, strangers, soldiers and enemies distorting what Christ invited all to freely do. Simon, if he knew Jesus, would not have had to be "compelled" to carry his cross, he would have gladly took up his cross and followed Jesus (Mt. 16:24). If the soldiers truly knew that "this was the Son of God" (27:54) before His death, they might not have gambled for His garments but instead, willingly and humbly been robed in Christ and His righteousness (Mt. 11:28, Gal 3:27). Instead of making mocking accusations (be they true) about the innocent Savior of the world, they would have proclaimed his victory and the salvation at hand (Mt. 10:27).To truly know Jesus means embracing his every invitation, uniting with him in every way, proclaiming his every truth and doing so willingly. There is no compulsion, no gambling, no mistakes or accidents - the invitation is free and clear. If I know Jesus, I will follow Him wholeheartedly in every way. I will bear His cross. I will put on His nature (Col. 3:12-14). I will proclaim His truth. Amen.(This is one of the stations of the cross along the Via Dolarosa commemorating Simon bearing Jesus cross.)
(This etching from a street in Sepphoria shows a common game played in the 1st century that might have been played to win Jesus' garments.)