Scriptures:
Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26-33.
Reflection:
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention Simon. He was North African, from the city of Cyrene in modern-day Libya. It is known that a large Jewish community lived in Cyrene at this time, so Simon was probably a Jew of the Diaspora (i.e. Jews living outside of Israel). Does Mark’s mention of his sons Alexander and Rufus suggest that they were already known to the disciples, or is it that the three had simply come to Jerusalem to worship at the feast of Passover?
So, here was Simon, ‘on his way in from the country’ (Luke 23:26), and along comes a procession of criminals on their way out of the city (Heb. 13:12) to Golgotha for execution – three of them, including Jesus, escorted by Romans soldiers.
It was normal for convicted criminals to carry the heavy cross-beam of their own cross to the place of execution. At 5’ (1.52m) in length and weighing the same as a sack of cement, how that rough cross-beam must have cut into the already torn flesh of the criminals backs, leaving numerous splinters in the flesh.
And as they drew level with Simon and his sons, Jesus collapsed under the weight of the beam. Maybe the beatings which he had already endured, and the sheer exhaustion of the ordeal thus far, had rendered him too weak to carry his cross. So Simon was grabbed at random from the crowd and forced to help. Luke says that they ‘made him carry it behind Jesus’. And in such close proximity to Jesus, Simon would have heard the conversation which Jesus had with the women (Luke 23:27- 31).
This might have been a fleeting encounter as their paths crossed, going in opposite directions. An encounter which would have gone unnoticed, except that God had other plans. And Simon is forced to turn and go in the opposite direction, following Jesus.
Seeing as Simon probably lifted the blood-spattered cross from Jesus’ shoulders onto his own, then witnessed his crucifixion, and heard the news of his miraculous resurrection, it is easy to think that Simon may have become a follower of Jesus.
Was Simon’s close encounter with Jesus that day such that he became a disciple? The Jews from Cyrene were in the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, and were among the first to hear the gospel (see Acts 2:10). Was Simon there as Peter preached? We also read in Acts 11:30 that believers from Cyrene were scattered from Jerusalem in the persecution following Stephen’s martyrdom (acts 11:20). Was Simon one who took the gospel back to Cyrene and one of the first of the church members there? In Romans 16:13, the Apostle Paul says, ‘Greet Rufus’. Is this a reference to Simon’s son?
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
We remember today, the pain and suffering of the
cross, and all that you were willing to endure, so
we could be set free. You paid the price, such a
great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life.
Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf.
Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all.
Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you freely given, what you have done for us.
AMEN
Songs:
How vast the love – Sovereign Music
Food for Thought:
As we encounter the crucified Christ again this Easter, may we not be untouched by his deep suffering for us