In listening to the Stations of the Cross, I couldn’t help but wonder about the point of views of all the various bystanders watching the death march of Jesus. Through a midst of bodies ranging from frightened onlookers to taunting scoffers, what was going through their minds? Two-thousand years ago public execution was a spectator sport, people jostling their way to the front how we might during a concert. Through which a certain Simon of Cyrene must have initially felt he was the epitome of the wrong place at the wrong time.
It is said that the Bible wastes no words, so we must read what was written about Simon from Cyrene carefully. His role is described in John 14:6, Matthew 27: 32, and Mark 15:21, and we know that God favors the power of “three.”
From Mark we read, “They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.”
“They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.”
Mark 15:21
Cyrene was located in modern-day Libya, in North Africa, some 1,500 miles from Jerusalem. Most theorize that Simon was likely on his way to Jerusalem for Passover. The arduous pilgrimage would have taken about a month, but unfortunately Simon would have been unable to participate in Passover after touching an instrument of death. Imagine what must have been Simon’s early frustration as he was pulled into a crucifixion he knew nothing about.
Saint Dismas, “the good thief,” who was crucified with Jesus, is regarded as the first saint. Although, you would think Simon of Cyrene would have been categorized first since he walked the Via Dolorosa (the sorrowful way) alongside Jesus. So, what happened to Simon after the crucifixion?
Tradition states Simon went to Egypt and shared the Gospel. Since the Gospel of Mark mentions his sons, Alexander and Rufus by name, some biblical historians also believe they were key players in the early Christian community. In addition, St. Paul mentions “Rufus” in his letter to the Romans, “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” Romans 16:13
“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.”
Romans 16:13
Now we have no verification that the Rufus Paul mentions is the same Rufus that is the son of Simon, but it would explain why Mark introduces us to Simon in such a way.
The role of Simon can be quite straight forward. As often as we are told to figuratively follow Jesus and carry His cross, Simon is the only one who does this literally. He also paints us a concrete picture in what this may look like: painful, embarrassing, difficult.
The role of Simon can also be seen as more complex. Personally, I find it interesting that Mark does not simply mention Simon as a foreigner, but as a man from Cyrene (Africa). Why might this be important to note? Africa is a continent ravaged by centuries of colonialism, imperialism, corruption, natural disaster, poverty, civil war, and genocide. It is almost as if Simon’s front seat view of the torment of Jesus parallels the unfathomable suffering of the continent. Perhaps Simon’s role is as Efran Menny views it, a model of unification for the African diaspora.
To think that throughout Simon’s 1,500-mile journey, if anything had differed slightly, he might not have been standing in the exact right spot, at the exact right time and his fate might not have coincided with Jesus’ death procession. Perhaps it was God all along, acting as the ultimate travel agent in ensuring this divine providence. Simon lent his strength to Jesus on that walk to Calvary, but he lived in Jesus’ strength every day after that. According to The Word Made Fresh, “Whenever our will meets God’s will, there will always be a cross.”
To think how Simon’s life must have changed after that day. Changed for his family, his children, and consequently all of us. How might our lives change if we can be strong enough to carry the cross of Jesus?