What are we missing in Simon of Cyrene’s story?

We don’t know very much about Simon of Cyrene. That doesn’t diminish his significance. He’s mentioned in three of the gospels as the man who carried the cross for Jesus. The fact that he’s named in Scripture attests to the honour of his service to our Lord. Since details are sparse, I can’t help but wonder about the man.

Mark 15 identifies him as a passerby, on his way in from the country. Was he in town for the Passover? Cyrene was a city in what is modern-day Libya. If he had made the pilgrimage for Passover, it would have been a long journey. Was he born in North Africa, or was he a Jewish transplant? Did he know of Jesus and wonder what was going on? Was he already a follower of Christ?

He’s named as the father of Alexander and Rufus. Would Mark’s earliest readers easily recognize these names? Usually, people were identified by being the “son of” someone, rather than by their own sons. 

We do know that Simon didn’t volunteer for this heavy task. He was compelled to serve, seized by the Roman soldiers escorting Jesus to Golgotha. Jesus had already been beaten and abused. Did it look like he might collapse before they could crucify him? Maybe the soldiers were afraid to deprive the bloodthirsty crowd of the spectacle, or of facing the wrath of Pilate if they failed in their mission. 

They scanned the crowd for a sturdy bystander. It probably didn’t seem like such a noble deed when they forced Simon to participate. “Hey, you. Yes, YOU! Get over here and load this crossbeam on your shoulder. We don’t have time to waste. Get to it!” He had no options. The soldiers probably considered him a random choice. But we know God ordained Simon specifically for this duty.

Spiritual weight 

Believers through the ages have spiritualized the weight of the event. Some consider it a living depiction of Jesus’ words in Luke 9:23 – “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (This is especially popular since Luke mentions Simon carrying it behind Jesus.) 

We never know what burdens God might lay on us, do we? We feel ill-equipped, especially when suddenly facing difficult challenges we didn’t choose for ourselves. Suffering is guaranteed to be part of life. Since all three of the synoptic gospels tell the story, it seems worth gleaning whatever treasures are within it. Surely it’s a reminder of Hebrews 12:2, “[Look] unto Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

Whatever happened to Simon of Cyrene? Tradition holds that he became an evangelist to Egypt and was martyred in 100 A.D., sawn in half for his faith. 

What thoughts crossed his mind during his final moments on earth? Did he picture that horizon from decades before? Three crosses in silhouette – the middle one having the power to unlock a greater, eternal horizon – the gateway to heaven. Glorious hope illumined that grim hilltop. 

Look to Jesus, my friend – hope isn’t just on the horizon. Hope is our horizon.