Simon of Cyrene

Jul 22

John M. Buttrey II

Under the demands of the Law of Moses, all Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem three times a year. This requirement pertained to their attendance and participation in three specific feasts: Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (Duet. 16:16). It was in obedience to this instruction that a man named Simon (a Jewish name), from Cyrene in North Africa, made his way to Jerusalem for Passover. Little did Simon know, his life was about to experience a dramatic change. Life is sometimes this way. Unexpected and unplanned events happen, and our life is changed, for better or worse.

This particular Passover was quite unique. At the start of the week, there was a big commotion as Jesus rode into town on a donkey (Matt. 21:1-9). On the next day, Jesus was in the temple casting out the money changers. No doubt, there was much conversation and debate that week about this Jesus, and whether or not He was the long-awaited Messiah (Matt. 21:10-11; Lk. 24:19-21).

Toward the end of the week, there was even more commotion. The religious leaders of the Jewish people arrested Jesus, and were seeking to have Him put to death. A crowd had assembled before the Roman governor. Pilate asked them a very important question:

So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:17).

The people asked for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified (Matt. 27:21-22). It is unlikely that Simon of Cyrene was among the crowd assembled before Pilate. He is later said to be coming in from the country. However, if he was present, he, too, might have shouted for Jesus to be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:24-26).

After being scourged by the Roman soldiers, Jesus is led to the place of crucifixion: Golgotha. Normally, the condemned man would carry his own cross to the crucifixion site. However, in the case of Jesus, it would appear that He was so weakened by the scourging, He was unable

to bear its weight. As such, we are told,

They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross (Mark 15:21 Emphasis Mine).

Out of all the Jewish people, from all over the world, Simon suddenly found himself pressed into service by a Roman soldier.

That Simon was pressed (compelled, forced) into service tells us this was not something he volunteered to do. Luke says he was seized (to take hold of) into service (Luke 23:26). Mark’s Gospel adds to Simon’s chance selection stating that he was just passing by. Simon now found himself as a critical part of the crucifixion procession. This was a task that would place him at Golgotha to witness the crucifixion of Jesus for himself!

Unlike the renderings of artists depicting Jesus carrying the whole cross, history would suggest that for a Roman crucifixion, the condemned would only be carrying the wooden, horizontal portion of the cross. This would later be joined to the vertical or upright member of the cross. Luke says Simon carried it behind Jesus (Luke 23:26).

All three Synoptic Gospels record Simon bearing Jesus’ cross. Some have wondered, whatever happened to Simon? Did he later become a believer in Jesus? While we cannot be absolutely certain, there are some compelling clues in Scripture that suggest the possibility that Simon did come to faith in Jesus.

Mark identifies Simon as the father of

Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). Apparently, these were individuals (possibly believers) known to his audience. It has long been believed that Mark's Gospel was written for the church in Rome. In Paul's letter to the Romans, he writes, “Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine” (Romans 16:13). Is this the same Rufus who was one of the sons of Simon? We don’t know, and there is no way to be certain about it. The mother of this Rufus (possibly Simon’s wife), was apparently quite a help to Paul, but no mention of Simon is given. Had he at this point passed from this life? Had the family moved to Rome from Cyrene? These are all questions that unfortunately lack a firm answer.

Another place where we find Simon as a possible member of the Lord’s church is in the book of Acts. Luke records a number of men who were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. Among these men were, “Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene” (Acts 13:1). Simeon is another form of Simon (cf. Acts 15:14). The question is whether Luke was meaning to say that both Simeon and Lucius were from Cyrene, or only Lucius?

The fact that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all knew Simon’s name and his city of residence, and in the case of Mark, his family, might itself be clues as to his later becoming a Christian. At any rate, it was certainly a day unlike any other for Simon: The day he helped Jesus, by carrying His cross.

As Christians, we are to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). Praise the Lord for those brethren who are self-compelled to help us during life’s difficult times, when weary and worn, the weight of our cross becomes too heavy to bear alone.