Who Help Jesus Carry His Cross

Who helped Jesus carry the cross?

Answer When Jesus was finally compelled to carry His cross to the spot where He would be executed by the Romans after being cruelly tortured, He was frightened. In the beginning, Jesus carried His own cross (John 19:17). The fact that Jesus was no longer capable of carrying His cross was most likely owing to the tremendous agony He had previously experienced at the hands of the authorities. A man was obliged to assist Jesus in carrying the cross as a result of this decision by the Roman troops.

Cyrene was an ancient city in Libya, Africa, that was destroyed by the Romans.

It is probable that Simon was a black man, but we cannot be certain because the Bible does not mention this.

There was also a substantial Jewish community in the city, as well as Jewish proselytes (see Acts 2:10).

1. Simon of Cyrene is only referenced once again in the Bible, in these three verses from the Synoptic Gospels.
2. A popular belief based on certain church tradition is that Simon of Cyrene became a Christian later in life — although some theories hold that he was already a follower of Christ prior to the crucifixion — and rose to prominence as a leader in the early church.
3. Assuming that this is the case, it lends support to the notion that Simon and his family were important members of the early church.
4. Simon of Cyrene was the man who accompanied Jesus on his journey to Calvary.
5. Hopefully, after witnessing up close and personal the agony Jesus underwent on our behalf, Simon of Cyrene came to accept Jesus as his Savior as well as his Lord and Savior.

What’s the Significance of Simon Carrying Jesus’s Cross?

Transcript of the audio We wish you a happy Good Friday, as we like to call it. Even though it is the most somber day of the year in the church calendar, it is a cheerful day. Last week, we spoke about how to account for both the repulsion and the thrill of the cross. Pastor John, and especially the character of Simon of Cyrene, is the subject of today’s discussion. Pastor John is one of the minor stories that make up the crucifixion story. It was brought to our attention by a podcast listener who wrote to us.

When I was reading through the tale of the crucifixion this week, something that I had previously overlooked struck my eye.

The importance of Simon bearing Jesus’ cross is not fully understood. “Can you tell us what God wants us to see here?”

Famous Simon of Cyrene

This was a really nice question for me to think about because I’ve read it a hundred times and haven’t taken a moment to reflect on it, as so many of these questions urge me to do. And that is quite beneficial. When writers are describing facts, they may provide us with clear indications and cues as to why they are included those facts and what they want us to take away from the information they are providing. I don’t find any very obvious, definitive hints in this passage, or in any of the Gospels, as to why the Gospel writers included this truth in their accounts.

• One possible explanation is that Simon, the man who carried the cross, may have been a well-known figure in the early church, such that the simple mention of his name serves as still more piece of historical proof.
• That’s a unique piece of information to possess.
• As a Gospel writer, Mark is frequently grouped with Peter, and Peter is often grouped with Rome, as evidenced by the presence of a character named Rufus in Romans 16.
• It’s the same of stating, “He’s the one who carried the cross.” Isn’t it incredible?

Five Suggestions

The fact that the crucifixion was associated with a person known as the father of Alexander and Rufus, however, suggests to me that Luke was thinking about something more than just the historical connection. Allow me to provide some recommendations. And that is essentially all there is to them. I’m happy to give them as suggestions rather than as declarations of certainty based on what I’ve observed so far. Maybe the people who are listening to me can see more than I can, and one of the recommendations will get closer to the sentiment, “Oh, that was definitely meant by Luke.” As a result, I’m assigning you some homework (kind of).

1. Served by a Foreigner

My initial hypothesis is based on the fact that Simon is characterized as coming from Cyrene. That is the name of a city in North Africa, which is now known as Libya. Because the name Simon was widespread among both Greeks and Jews, we are unable to determine whether he was Jewish or Gentile. We don’t know whether he was on a visit to Jerusalem or whether he actually resided there, but we do know that the Gospels call emphasis to the fact that this guy is of alien descent.

He is of African descent. As Luke may comment, “It should be emphasized that a foreigner — in this case, an African — served Jesus at his dying hour.” That is the first of my suggestions.

2. Pick Up Your Cross

Because Simon is mentioned as coming from Cyrene, my initial suggestion is based on that fact. In North Africa, it would be a city in what is currently known as Libya. As a result of the name Simon being prevalent among both Greeks and Jews, we are unable to determine whether he was Jewish or not. The Gospels pay emphasis to the fact that this guy is of foreign origin, but we don’t know if he was just passing through or if he actually resided in Jerusalem. He’s an African, as you could have guessed by now.

So that’s the first of my recommendations.

3. Sudden Suffering

In addition, if we believe that Luke was using this story as a parable of discipleship, as I have argued, may the fact that Simon was picked for the heavy work so quickly and unexpectedly be Luke’s method of teaching us that we do not always get to choose when we bear our crosses? “Simon was a genuine historical figure who happened to be there at a genuine historical time.” We aren’t always in control of when we experience pain and sorrow. They come at us in unexpected ways, terrifying ways, weighty ways, painful ways, and apparently random ways, but they are always there.

This might serve as a reminder to us that every minute of our existence, whether we are traveling to or from the country, we should be prepared to be taken away and thrown into the service of Jesus in a painful way.

4. Kept Alive for the Cross

If we believe that Luke was using this episode to illustrate the need of discipleship, as I believe he was, may the fact that Simon was picked so quickly and unexpectedly for the heavy duty be Luke’s method of teaching us that we do not always get to choose when we bear our crosses? The historian says, “Simon was a genuine historical figure who happened to be there at a genuine historical time.” We aren’t always in control of when we experience pain and loss. They can come at us in a variety of ways: unexpectedly, frighteningly, heavily, painfully, apparently at random.

We just do not know when this will occur.

5. Heavenly Help

Third, if we believe that Luke was referring to this occurrence as a parable of discipleship, as I have argued, may the fact that Simon was picked for the heavy work so quickly and unexpectedly be Luke’s method of teaching us that we don’t always get to choose when we carry our crosses? “Simon was a true historical figure who happened to be there at a true historical time.” We are not always in control of when we suffer. They can come at us in a variety of ways: unexpectedly, frighteningly, heavily, painfully, or apparently randomly.

And we just don’t know when it will happen.

What We Know

Third, if we believe that Luke was referring to this occurrence as a parable of discipleship, as I have argued, may the fact that Simon was picked for the heavy work so quickly and unexpectedly be Luke’s method of teaching us that we do not always get to choose when we carry our crosses? “Simon was a real historical figure who happened to be present at a true historical moment.” We are not always in control of when we will suffer. They come at us in unexpected ways, terrifying ways, weighty ways, painful ways, and apparently random ways.

We just don’t know when it will occur.

1. Simon was a real historical person who happened to be present at a real historical moment
2. He was a foreigner, an African, who served Jesus in his final hour
3. Carrying the cross behind Jesus is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples, according to Luke 9
4. And carrying the cross behind Jesus is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples, according to Luke 9. Whether Luke intended for us to see it or not, it is true
5. The call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden, costly, and seemingly random
6. Simon’s assistance proved to be both a temporary relief and an additional source of suffering because it enabled Jesus to endure the horrifying experience of crucifixion for us
7. We know that when Jesus cried out to his heavenly Father in Gethsemane, he was given assistance. He need assistance in order to maintain his composure under pressure. His prayers were heard and answered by God. These were the most difficult moments in Jesus’ life

Following Jesus on the cross behind him is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples, according to the Gospel of Luke. Simon was a real historical person who happened to be there at a real historical moment; He was a foreigner, an African, who served Jesus in his final hour; and He was a foreigner, an African, who served Jesus in his final hour. Whether Luke intended for us to see it or not, it is true; the call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden, costly, and seemingly random; Simon’s assistance proved to be both a temporary relief and an additional source of suffering because it enabled Jesus to endure the horrifying experience of crucifixion for us; We know that when Jesus cried out to his heavenly Father in Gethsemane, he was given assistance; He need assistance in order to maintain his compliance.

His prayers were heard and answered by the Almighty God.

Who Helped Jesus Carry the Cross?

Simon was a real historical person who happened to be present at a real historical moment; he was a foreigner, an African, who served Jesus in his final hour; carrying the cross behind Jesus is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples, according to Luke 9; and carrying the cross behind Jesus is a beautiful and painful picture of our calling as disciples, according to Mark 16. Whether Luke intended for us to see it or not, it is true; the call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden, costly, and seemingly random; Simon’s assistance proved to be both a temporary relief and an additional source of suffering because it enabled Jesus to endure the horrible experience of crucifixion for us; We know that when Jesus cried out to his heavenly Father in Gethsemane, he was given assistance.

He need assistance to ensure that his allegiance did not fail.

Those were the most difficult hours of Jesus’ life.

The Story of the Man Who Helped Jesus Carry the Cross

Simon of Cyrene receives barely a fleeting reference in the Scriptures; his name appears in only three lines, all of which are concerned with carrying the cross for Jesus on his behalf. This occurrence is reported in three places in the Bible: Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and Luke 23:26. The fact that he is referenced by three of the four Gospel authors indicates that he is significant enough to warrant a single mention in the Bible. Interesting also is the fact that each of these three authors, while providing us with the identical narrative of the same incident, provides us with the information in a little different manner than the others.

We can observe the varied components of the tale if we look at these three verses in conjunction with John’s version, which does not include Simon:

• As they were about to leave, they came upon a man from Cyrene called Simon, and they forced him to bear the cross
• Matthew 27:32 They compelled him to carry the cross because he was a Cyrenean named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who happened to be passing by on his way into town from the country. The soldiers kidnapped Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way into town from the country, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross behind them. Luke 23:26- As the soldiers dragged Jesus away, they arrested Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way into town from the country. John 19:17- He went out to the site of the Skull (which is known in Aramaic as Golgotha), carrying his own cross.

They encountered a man from Cyrene called Simon as they were leaving, and they forced him to bear the cross; Matthew 27:32-33. They compelled him to carry the cross because he was a Cyrenean named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who happened to be passing by on his way into town from the countryside. As the soldiers carried him away, they apprehended Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way into town from the countryside, and forced him to bear the cross behind Jesus; Luke 23:26-27. In John 19:17, he walked out to the site of the Skull (which is known in Aramaic as Golgotha), where he carried his own cross.

What Do We Know about Simon of Cyrene?

As they were about to leave, they came upon a man from Cyrene called Simon, and they forced him to bear the cross. They compelled him to carry the cross because he was a Cyrenean named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was passing by on his way in from the country. As the soldiers carried him away, they apprehended Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way into town from the countryside, and forced him to bear the cross behind Jesus. John 19:17- He went out to the site of the Skull (which is known in Aramaic as Golgotha), bearing his own cross.

Is There Anything Unusual about Jesus’ Path to the Crucifixion?

The practice of crucifixion in ancient Rome was not uncommon; in fact, it was often used as a form of lethal punishment and intimidation by the Romans. Crucifixion was seen as an unfit punishment for Roman people since it was a sad, humiliating, and painful method of death, according to the Romans. Even the phrase “ex cruc iating” comes from the Latin word for crucifixion, crucis (which means cross). Because of these heinous tactics, the Romans were able to maintain their grasp on power. Additionally, the route that Jesus traveled, known as the Via Dolorosa (the Path of Sorrows), and the hill where the crucifixion took place, known as Calvary (in Latin) or Golgotha (in Greek), were presumably familiar locations for this type of drama.

What Should Christians Take Away from the Story of Jesus and Simon?

Crucification was not only widespread in ancient Rome, but it was also used as a kind of deadly punishment and intimidation by the people of that time period. Crucifixion was seen as an unfit punishment for Roman people since it was a terrible, humiliating, and agonizing method of dying that was thought too horrific. The term “ex cruc iating” is taken from the Latin word for crucifixion, crucis, which means cross. Because of such heinous methods, the Romans were able to maintain their grasp on power.

Why Did Jesus Need Help Carrying His Cross?

It is a well-known narrative that appears in three of the four gospel accounts: Soldiers confronted a man called Simon of Cyrene on the way to the cross and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross the entire way to Golgotha, also known as the “Place of the Skull,” where he was cruelly executed by nailing him to the cross in broad daylight. While the details of each narrative varied slightly (one informs us the names of Simon’s sons, another says Simon was on his way into town from the country), the underlying themes remain consistent.

What is Simon’s name? Why did Jesus require assistance in bearing His cross? And what is the deeper significance of this component of the crucifixion that involves the bearing of the cross?

What Does the Bible Say about the Carrying of Jesus’ Cross?

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, together known as the Synoptic Gospels, include the biblical narrative of this event.

• Among the shortest versions is Matthew’s, which merely informs readers that “while they were heading out, they came upon a man from Cyrene, called Simon, and they forced him to bear the cross.” The Bible says (Matthew 27:32)
• “A particular man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to bear the cross,” according to Mark’s gospel narrative. They took Jesus to a spot known as Golgotha (which literally translates as ‘the place of the skull’).” 15:21-22
• (Matthew 15:21-22)
• Luke also records that as the soldiers were leading Jesus away, they apprehended Simon of Cyrene, who was on his way into town from the country, and forced him to bear the cross behind Jesus, according to the Gospel of Luke. His followers included a significant number of ladies who wept and mourned for him.” (Luke 23:26-27
• Matthew 23:26-27)

Only the Gospel of John does not include Simon of Cyrene, instead emphasizing that Jesus carried His own cross on His own initiative (John 19:17).

Who Is Simon of Cyrene?

Despite the fact that the Bible doesn’t say much about him, we do know that Cyrene was a seaside city in northern Africa, at the border with eastern Libya. Given the inclusion of Simon’s sons Alexander and Rufus in Mark’s book, it is safe to assume that they were well-known to people who read it. Rufus is addressed again in the book of Romans (16:13), and his mother is recognized as being “similar in character to the author of that book,” however we are not positive if this is the same Rufus from the previous chapter.

• According to some scholars, the inclusion of the sons implies that they eventually became disciples of Christ and were involved in the early church, possibly as a result of their father’s involvement in the cross-bearing procession.
• What’s the deal with Simon?
• Some believe he may have been a Jew who had recently relocated to Cyrene and was now on his way to Jerusalem, and that the soldiers chose him for the assignment because of his Jewish look.
• No one can tell what race, nationality, or religion he belongs to based on these verses.

Why Did Jesus Need Help with the Cross?

We don’t know if Jesus need assistance; all we know is that the soldiers compelled Simon to assist him. Researchers believe that, following the thrashing Jesus experienced, He would have been in poor physical condition to carry anything so heavy all the way to the cross, at least from the perspective of a human being. According to historians, the majority of the time, the condemned were compelled to carry their crossbeam, which weighed between 30 and 40 pounds on average. In the days leading up to his death on the Via Dolorosa, often known as the “road of sorrows,” a meandering route that runs from Jerusalem to Golgotha, the Bible tells us that Jesus was beaten with fists and whipped, and he was crowned with thorns and pounded repeatedly with a rod (Mark 14:65;Mark 15:15,19,Matthew 26:67;Matthew 27:29).

But, clearly, Jesus is more than a human being; as God’s Son, he is a member of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God, who is three in one, co-equal and co-eternal, and as such, he is more than a human being.

The reason many academics feel Jesus “needed” aid was not because he was weak, but rather for a variety of causes unrelated to his own personal frailty. A walking symbol, an actual cross-bearer, was required in this terrible time. This was the person who came to the rescue.

What Did Simon of Cyrene Symbolize?

However, we have no way of knowing if Jesus need assistance; all we know is that the soldiers compelled Simon to assist him. Theorists believe that Jesus would have been in bad condition to carry anything so heavy all the way to the cross, at least from the perspective of a human being, following the thrashing He had experienced. The majority of the time, historians show, condemned prisoners were forced to carry their crossbeam, which weighed 30-40 pounds on their backs and shoulders. Prior to the trek over the Via Dolorosa, also known as the “path of sorrows,” which is a meandering route of numerous streets from Jerusalem to Golgotha, Scripture tells us that Jesus was beaten with fists, whipped, crowned with thorns, and hit repeatedly in the head with a stick, among other things (Mark 14:65;Mark 15:15,19,Matthew 26:67;Matthew 27:29).

In reality, however, Jesus is far more than a mere human being; as God’s Son, Jesus is a member of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God, who is three in one, co-equal and co-eternal, and so part of the Triune Godhead.

A walking symbol, an actual cross-bearer, was required in this terrible time.

What Happened to Simon of Cyrene?

Simon of Cyrene is one of those intriguing characters who appears just briefly in the crucifixion account, but whose significance is made all the more apparent by the fact that we only get a fleeting sight of him. He’s just there for a split second before disappearing, but what he did and how he got there tells us something very important about the situation at hand.

Who Was Simon of Cyrene?

Simon of Cyrene is referenced three times in the New Testament: in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and Luke 23:26. In Mark’s version, he is mentioned as having two sons, Rufus and Alexander, whereas Luke’s version states that Simon was traveling to Jerusalem “from the country” to be with them. Jesus, whom Pilate had sentenced to death by crucifixion, was walking out of Jerusalem, escorted by the Romans, bearing his cross to the place of execution, called Golgotha. The procession to Golgotha was a public event in which Jesus (along with the two thieves who were also condemned) marched along streets with onlookers cheering them on.

While Jesus was going, the Romans stopped Simon, who happened to be passing by, and forced him to carry the cross for him.

A specific period of time is not stated, although it is possible that Simon carried the cross behind Jesus all the way to Golgotha. It is customary to have two Stations of the Cross: one with Simon bearing the cross and the other with pious women crying as they view Jesus heading toward Golgotha.

Why Did Simon of Cyrene Carry Jesus’ Cross?

None of the three narratives explains what particularly prompted the Romans to believe that someone had to assist them in carrying the cross, or why they chose Simon to do so. Some people, however, have spoken about the medical aspects of crucifixion, which may provide us with some insight. Lee Strobel had an interview with a medical expert for his bookCase for Christ, and the interviewee mentioned that it was usual for crucifixion victims to be flogged before to their execution, something we know occurred with Jesus (John 19:1-4).

1. The whips used by the Romans during that time period were harsh, consisting of numerous leather strips with imbedded pieces of glass or metal.
2. He also pointed out that when someone is under extreme stress to the point of sweating blood, like Jesus was in Gethsemane (Luke 22:40-46), their skin becomes more sensitive, making the flogging more more damaging.
3. For some, the psychological strain of carrying his own execution device would have been too much to bear, and his injuries and blood loss would have made it even more difficult for him to bear.
4. As a result, it’s extremely probable that the Romans were aware that Jesus was having difficulty carrying the cross.
5. The procedure of crucifixion was well-practiced for the Romans; they had done it many times before, and as with any well-practiced execution technique, there was a schedule to follow in order to carry it out.
6. In addition, it would imply that the intended impact of public executions, which is to humiliate the victim while terrifying bystanders, may be undermined.
7. That would be referred to as “poor form” in the military.
8. Because the text does not provide us with an explanation, it is difficult to determine why the Romans singled out Simon.
9. Slavery practices began in the 1600s, and before then, racism based on other ethnic criteria (religion, language, and so on) was more frequent.

However, it’s probable that the Romans, who were members of the conquering class who believed themselves to be racially superior to everyone, singled Simon out because he was dark-skinned and they intended to humiliate him, as well as everyone else.

What Happened to Simon after the Crucifixion?

Simon of Cyrene is not mentioned in the Bible prior to the Crucifixion, nor is he mentioned at any point later. However, while it is stated in Acts 2:10 that other people from Cyrene were there at the Pentecostal event and heard the disciples speaking in tongues, there is no explicit reference of Simon being among those present. In addition, he is not mentioned in any official early church sources. As a result, we have no way of knowing what transpired after his meeting with Jesus. Simon is the subject of a few urban tales and wild conjecture here and there.

• However, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, this apocryphal book is really about the apostle Simon the Zealot, therefore it is possible that this is a mistake.
• An article in the Southern Nebraska Register includes claims that Simon’s sons Alexander and Rufus were engaged in the early Roman church, which is supported by the evidence in the article.
• Tradition also claims that Peter started the Roman church (he was subsequently murdered in Rome by Nero), and some papers mention a guy called Rufus who was a member of the Roman church at the time of its founding.
• It is possible that Mark is highlighting items that his specialized audience would find interesting during those moments in which he makes unique comments (local connections and so forth).
• For example, because the Gospel of John is targeted to a Gentile audience, rather than beginning with a discussion of Jesus as Messiah, it begins with a discussion of Jesus as theLogos(word), a notion that Gentile audiences who understand Greek would be more familiar with.

Why Is His Story Important?

At no time during or after the Crucifixion is Simon of Cyrene mentioned by name in the Bible. Other people from Cyrene were present at the Pentecostal event and heard the disciples speaking in tongues, according to Acts 2:10, but there is no particular mention of Simon being among them. The official early church papers also do not mention him at all. Consequently, we have no way of knowing what transpired following his meeting with Jesus. Various tales and theories surround Simon, and he has been the subject of a number of publications.

1. Nevertheless, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, this apocryphal book is really about the apostle Simon the Zealot, therefore it is possible that the title is a mistake.
2. An article in the Southern Nebraska Register includes suggestions that Simon’s sons Alexander and Rufus were engaged in the early Roman church, which is supported by the evidence in this article.
3. It is also believed that Peter started the Roman church (he was subsequently killed in Rome by Nero), and certain historical texts refer to a man called Rufus as a member of the Roman church.
4. A distinctive point made by Mark at various times in the book may be that he is drawing attention to something that his specialized audience would find interesting (local connections and so forth).

For example, because the Gospel of John is targeted to a Gentile audience, rather than beginning with a discussion of Jesus as Messiah, it begins with a discussion of Jesus as theLogos(word), a notion that Greek-speaking Gentile audiences would be more acquainted with.

Why Is it Important That Simon of Cyrene Carried the Cross?

Everything that is written in the Bible is accurate. The Bible does not mince words, from the veracity of all reported statements and occurrences to the veracity of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is a book that does not mince words. In order to represent God’s intentions, the words of Scripture were carefully chosen by the Holy Spirit, and everything in them has significance. As a result, when we read brief biographies of persons, we may be assured that they are in the Word for a reason.

• Cyrene was established as a trading center by the Greeks about the seventh century B.C., and it was located in the area of Cyrenaica, a coastal town on the Mediterranean Sea.
• Cyrene was called after Kyrene, who was the daughter of a Thessalian monarch (Hypseus) and a water nymph who lived in the ancient world.
• People from Cyrene were able to hear Peter preach as though he were speaking in their own tongue.
• However, we cannot be certain because the Bible does not say anything about Simon’s ethnic background.
• Scripture does not state anything, and we must refrain from asserting something that the author of the Scriptures did not intend.
• In Matthew, it is said that “they discovered a man of Cyrene by the name of Simon.” “They compelled this man to bear the cross,” says the author.
• “And as they brought Him away, they caught one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and set the cross on him, so that he would carry it after Jesus,” according to the Gospel of Luke.

Why Is it Important That Simon of Cyrene Carried the Cross?

A common occurrence in Scripture is the author’s explanation or revelation of why specific events and persons are referenced, whether it is to provide lessons for Christians today or to provide more substantiation to a narrative. In the instance of Simon of Cyrene, the latter appears to be the case. He looks to be an afterthought intended to add excitement to the account, but because the Lord does not waste words, his presence by the Gospel authors must have some significance. There are just a handful of persons named in the whole Bible.

1. God is always intentional, and it’s possible that He ordered the soldiers to select Simon of Cyrene to bear the Lord’s cross for a part of His agony on the road to Golgotha, as they did.
2. What a valuable lesson in humility.
3. Simon did more than just watch; he actively participated in the Lord’s progress toward crucifixion and death.
4. Perhaps the crowd pressed together to catch a glimpse of the Christ, to whom they had just exclaimed “Hosanna!
5. “He was despised and rejected by others,” writes the prophet Isaiah.
6. Among the scoffers were disciples such as John the Baptist, Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene, who were all there (John 19:25-26).
7. Simon is summoned to duty in each of the stories narrated.

It has been suggested that we would like not to bear our “crosses” as well, as a way of spiritualizing Simon’s actions.

Was it a sense of sympathy that drove them to do it?

The soldiers were given orders to bring Jesus to Golgotha, where he would be crucified and killed.

Perhaps, as they walked alongside Him, He appeared to be on the verge of passing out in His battered condition.

Commanding officers expected the troops to carry out their instructions in their entirety and not to let one of the men destined for crucifixion to die before their tasks were done.

Simon’s service to Jesus may indicate the Father’s deed of love toward His Son in order to momentarily alleviate Jesus’ suffering.

What a gracious gift from God to include Simon in His Son’s final earthly trip (in His first advent).

This is shown implicitly by Simon of Cyrene, who gives us an example of what it looks like.

The world system seeks to persuade us with its diversions and enticements, just as Simon, who was carrying the Lord’s load, was most certainly subjected to insults and offers.

One might pray and think on the Lord’s arduous journey to the Place of the Skull while doing the trek.

What Happened to Simon of Cyrene after the Resurrection?

A common occurrence in Scripture is the author’s explanation or revelation of why particular events and persons are referenced, whether it is to provide lessons for Christians today or to provide further substantiation to a story. With Simon of Cyrene, it appears that the latter is the case. He looks to be an afterthought intended to add interest to the account, but as the Lord does not waste words, his presence by the Gospel authors must have some significance. There are just a few persons named in the whole Bible.

1. Simon of Cyrene may have been chosen by the soldiers to carry the Lord’s cross for a portion of His agony on the trip to Golgotha, and it is possible that God instructed the soldiers to do so.
2. What a valuable lesson in humility.
3. Simon did more than just watch; he actively participated in the Lord’s progress toward the cross.
4. Perhaps the crowd pressed together to catch a glimpse of the Christ, to whom they had just yelled “Hosanna!
5. “He was despised and rejected by men,” writes the prophet Isaiah.
6. Disciples such as John, Jesus’ mother, and Mary Magdalene were among those who scoffed at the scoffers (John 19:25-26).
7. Simon is summoned to duty in each of the accounts.

Some believe that we, too, would prefer not to wear our “crosses,” as a way of spiritualizing Simon’s act.

They acted out of sympathy, was that right?

It was the soldiers’ responsibility to transport Jesus to Golgotha, where he would be nailed to the cross and executed by hanging.

He may have appeared to be on the verge of passing away as they walked alongside Him in his battered condition.

Rather than allow one of the men destined for crucifixion to die before their responsibilities were done, their commanding commanders expected the soldiers to carry out their instructions in full.

Simon’s assistance to Jesus may indicate the Father’s deed of love toward His Son in order to momentarily alleviate Jesus’ load.

Simon’s participation in Jesus’ final earthly trip was a gracious gift from God (in His first advent).

In addition, some people spiritualize Simon’s transportation of Jesus’ cross in regard to how we, as Christians, need to “bear our own crosses” as we follow Jesus’ teachings (Luke 14:27).

Following Jesus is not an easy task.

People who want to memorialize the different events that took place along the path to Golgotha, including the location where it is believed Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear the cross, have opted to walk the Via Dolorosa today, according to the Catholic Church.

During the trek, one might pray and think on the Lord’s arduous journey to the Place of the Skull.

Fifth Station – The Cyrenian helps Jesus carry the cross

Matthew 27:32 and 16:24 are two passages from the Gospel of Matthew. In the course of their travels, they came upon a man from Cyrene by the name of Simon, whom they coerced into carrying his cross. The following is what Jesus taught his disciples: “If anybody wishes to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

MEDITATION

27:32 and 16:24 are taken from the Gospel of Matthew. In the course of their travels, they came upon a man from Cyrene by the name of Simon, whom they forced to bear his cross. ‘If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,’ Jesus instructed his followers.

PRAYER

Lord, you opened the eyes and heart of Simon of Cyrene, and you bestowed the grace of faith upon him as a result of his participation in your Cross. Help us to provide assistance to our neighbors who are in need, even when doing so conflicts with our own goals and wishes. As we recognize that it is a mercy to be able to bear the cross of others, may we be reminded that we are traveling with you on this journey of faith. Help us to recognize with gratitude that, by sharing in your sorrow and the sufferings of this world, we are transformed into servants of salvation who are able to contribute to the building up of your Body, the Church.

Simon of Cyrene and Signifying Race in Early 20th Century African-American Theatre on JSTOR

Information about the Journal Taking a look at the intersection of creativity, religion, and spirituality through expressive practice is the focus of Ecumenica: Performance and Religion. In its peer-reviewed format, Ecumenica treats performance and religion as overlapping and sometimes mutually forming concepts, favoring no single form of artistic expression over another and privileging no particular religious tradition over another. The basic purpose of the magazine is to investigate the multiplicity of ways in which creative and religious impulses might be manifested in a number of contexts.

The magazine anticipates that performance and religious scholarship will be able to add a plethora of new themes to this list.

Established and new researchers are invited to submit manuscripts to Ecumenica.

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Matthew 27:32 Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

Information on the Journals Aspects of expressive activity such as creativity, religion, and spirituality are addressed in Ecumenica: Performance and Religion. It is a peer-reviewed publication that considers performance and religion as overlapping and frequently mutually forming categories, favoring no single form of artistic expression over another and privileging no particular religious tradition over the other. The fundamental purpose of the magazine is to investigate the range of ways in which creative and religious impulses might be manifested in a number of contexts and settings.

Many more subjects are expected to be added to this list by the journal’s expectation that performance and religion scholarship will contribute significantly.

Established and rising researchers are invited to submit contributions to Ecumenica.

Alumnae and friends of the University join forces with academics and staff to document the life and history of the institution.

RightsUsage In the JSTOR Collection, this item may be found under the title To learn more about our terms and conditions, please visit our website.

Permissions should be sought.