RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-09-16	What Is The Significance of Simon Carrying Jesus' Cross?
		Mat 27:32  Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. Mar 15:21  Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. Luk 23:26  Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. This is not a random detail of Scripture. Simon of Cyrene is mentioned in Matthew, Mark and Luke's accounts. What does God want us to see here? When the Biblical writers give us facts, they provide clues to something of greater significance. The significance may not be initially evident. But it allows us the opportunity to meditate on and consider the meaning. Here are some suggestions why Simon is mentioned in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke). 1. We know that Simon was a real historical person (Matthew, Mark, Luke). 2. He was a foreigner. An African who served Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke). 3. Carrying the cross behind Jesus is a picture of our calling as disciples (Lk.9:23). 4. Simon's help proved to be both a relief, but added to it because it allowed Jesus to make it to the cross and suffer more. 1. Mark may have included the names of Simon's two sons because he expected the readers would recognize them (Mk.15:21). In the letter to the Romans Paul greets a man named Rufus (Ro.16:13). This may be one of the sons of Simon the Cyrenian. Remember Paul gave a list of eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus (1Co.15:3-7). Maybe Mark is encouraging his readers to check out the details with witnesses they were familiar with. The resurrection was rooted in history with many witnesses. Perhaps Rufus and Alexander were living witnesses who can vouch for what Mark wrote about their father. 2. Simon is described as from Cyrenian. This is a city in north Africa today we call Libya. We do not know whether he was Black white, Jewish or Gentile, because Jews and Greeks lived in Cyrenian. The name Simon was common for both Greeks and Jews. The Gospels point out that he was of a foreign origin. So Luke could be saying, “Let it be known that a foreigner served Jesus in His final hours.” 3. Luke is the only Gospel that points out that he carried the cross behind Jesus (“after” or “behind”). The other gospel account simply says he carried the cross. Does Luke want us to remember Luke 9:23? Luk 9:23  Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke writes if anyone will “come after Me” and “follow Me” maybe picturing what discipleship looks like? 4. It may be assumed that demanding someone to carry the cross means Jesus physically was at the breaking point. He was too weak to finish the task on His own. But was this act by the authorities (soldiers) an act of compassion, cruelty, or just expediency. If Jesus could not carry His cross, somebody had to because the soldiers were charged to crucify Jesus. If they allowed Jesus to die on the way someone will probably be in trouble. Maybe it was pure expediency to get Jesus to the cross. If that is the case they wanted to make sure Jesus survived for the remaining torture on the cross. This is the opposite of compassion. “We need to get the nails in His hands” was their job. There is no single answer as to why Simon the Cyrenian is mentioned. It may be any or all the suggestions given. Or it may be something altogether different. Scripture gives us so many wonderful opportunities to think. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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