NAMED, BUT UNKNOWN: SIMON, THE CYRENIAN

The New Testament gives short, quick snapshots of various characters. Their names jump into the narrative, then quickly disappear from view. After encountering Jesus, their stories are left incomplete. They are named, but largely unknown.

Such is the story of Simon, the Cyrenian (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each call him by name… Simon, a man from the North African city of Cyrene. He was apparently among the throngs visiting Jerusalem during the Passover celebration. He was “coming in from the country”(Luke 23:26) when Roman soldiers conscripted him. “They forced him to carry (Jesus’) cross” (Matthew 27:32).

There is absolutely nothing that leads us to conclude that Simon was a faithful follower of Jesus prior to this event. He was just a man in the crowd, chosen for a humble duty. Maybe the Roman soldier called out, “Hey you… carry this heavy wooden cross! This condemned criminal is too bloody and beaten to carry it himself! You carry it!”

I conclude that Simon, after encountering Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, became a born-again Christ-follower. Did Jesus speak to Simon? Did He express His gratitude? “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).

Simon’s name was remembered long after the event of that first Good Friday, and so were the names of his sons, “Alexander and Rufus” (Mark 15:21). Why would these names have been remembered and recorded if they hadn’t become part of the first-century church?

After being faithful to carry Jesus’ heavy burden, Simon of Cyrene (I surmise), let Jesus carry his sinful burdens to Calvary. If so, then he could proclaim, “He himself bore (my) sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, (I) might live for righteousness. By his wounds (I) have been healed!” (1 Peter 2:24).

Maybe Simon smiled when he heard the Apostles repeating Jesus’ words: “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Yes. Simon was chosen … chosen for the honorable task of carrying the King’s cross! 

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).