Luke 23:26 - "Simon of Cyrene"

Jesusis finally condemned by Pilate and sent to be crucified on Golgotha. Accordingto John’s Gospel, Jesus is forced to bear His cross. “And He, bearingHis cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called inHebrew, Golgotha" (John 19:16-18). (By the way, Johnis the only Gospel that does not mention Simon of Cyrene by name.) Matthew’sGospel tells it this way: “Now asthey came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. " (Matthew 27:31-33). Mark’sGospel gives us some additional information about Simon of Cyrene. “And whenthey had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him,and led Him out to crucify Him. Then they compelled a certain man, Simon aCyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of thecountry and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the placeGolgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull” (Mark 15:20-22) Historyalso gives us some information about the country of Cyrene where Simon wasfrom: Jews began migrating to Cyrene as early as the 3rd century BCE, primarilyunder Ptolemy I’s policy to strengthen Cyrenaica, with further migrationsoccurring during the Roman period. The reasons for migration included politicalstrategies (Ptolemaic resettlement), economic opportunities (Cyrene’sprosperity and trade), religious connections (ties to Jerusalem), and, in laterperiods, escape from persecution or instability in other regions. By the timeof Simon of Cyrene in the 1st century CE, the Jewish community in Cyrene waswell-established, influential, and closely linked to Jerusalem, as evidenced bytheir synagogue and presence at major Jewish festivals. Cyrene was located inpresent day Libya next to Egypt. Itwas a part of the prisoner's humiliation that he carry his own cross to theplace of execution, so when Jesus left Pilate's hall, He was carrying eitherthe cross or the crossbeam (John 19:17). Apparently, He was unable to go on,for the soldiers had to "draft" Simon of Cyrene to carry the crossfor Him. (This was a legal Roman procedure. See Matt. 5:41.) When you considerall that Jesus had endured since His arrest in the Garden, it is not difficultto imagine Him falling under the load. But there is something more involved:carrying the cross was a sign of guilt, and our Lord was not guilty! Thousandsof Jews came to Jerusalem from other nations to celebrate the feasts (Acts2:5-11), and Simon was among them. He had traveled over 800 miles from Africato celebrate Passover, and now he was being humiliated on a most holy day! Whatwould he say to his family when he got home? But might have looked to Simon like a catastrophe turned out to be awonderful opportunity, for it brought him in contact with Jesus Christ. Simonprobably had come into the city of Jerusalem to attend the 9 a.m. prayermeeting in the temple, but got caught up in the crowd following Jesus to Hiscrucifixion. But God’s providence place him in the right place at exactly theright time. It was then that the soldiers “compelled” him to carry the cross ofJesus.  Wehave good reason to believe that Simon was converted because of this encounterwith Jesus. Mark identified him as "the father of Alexander andRufus" (Mark 15:21), two men that Mark assumed his Roman readers wouldknow. A Christian named Rufus was greeted by Paul in Romans 16:13, and it ispossible that he was the son of Simon of Cyrene. Apparently Simon and his twosons became well-known Christians who were held in honor in the church. BeforeSimon met Jesus, he had religion and devotion; but after he met Jesus, he hadreality and salvation. He did both a physical and spiritual "aboutface" that morning, and it transformed his life. God can still useunexpected and difficult situations, even humiliating situations, to bringpeople to the Savior. What is your story?