Not much is known about Simon the Cyrene, but his name has become synonymous with one of the most horrific events of Jesus’ life. The book of Mark tells us that he was coming in from the country with his two sons, Rufus and Alexander, most likely to celebrate the Passover; when he was seized and made to carry the cross that Jesus would ultimately be crucified upon.
Simon had come to Jerusalem to celebrate God’s deliverance of Israel from the bondages of Egypt, not to participate in death of this man Jesus! Scripture tells us that Simon had to be compelled or forced to carry the cross. Simon had stopped as a simple onlooker that day and had no intention of being thrust into history, but soon enough he found himself shoulder to shoulder with the Savior of the world. Jesus’ blood likely staining Simon’s garments as he mounted up under the weight of the cross.
Simon was obviously a religious man, however he was completely unaware that the blood that dripped upon his cloak was the very blood that would save us from our sins!
I contend that if Simon had not been compelled to take up that cross, he would have quietly waited for the crowds to pass by and then proceeded to the Temple to present his offering to the the high priest; worshipping God in a way that was familiar to him, certainly not burdened under the weight of a blood stained cross.
Unlike Simon, however, scripture tells us that Jesus bore the cross but it is never mentioned that they had to force Him to carry it:
“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgatha, where they crucified Him.”-John 19:17.
If fact, Philippians 2:8 tells us that Jesus willfully took the burden of the cross upon Himself:
“He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
However, the burden of carrying the cross didn’t begin when the Roman soldiers placed it on Jesus’ back. The burden of the cross began in Gethsemane:
“O, My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.”-Matthew 26:39
Gethsemane is where Jesus wrestled in prayer concerning His approaching crucifixion. It is where Jesus laid down His will for the will of the Father; setting an example for us by demonstrating that you will never lay down your life, until you first lay down your will.
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us. Leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps.”-1 Peter 2:21
When Jesus stopped and dropped the cross, Simon was tasked with carrying it. What makes this story so impactful is that Jesus was carrying a cross that was not His to bear. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, however Jesus lived a sinless life. The sin debt Jesus was paying was yours, mine, and Simon’s!
“He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.”-1 Peter 2:24
The cross that Simon dragged to Calvary that day was his own! That’s what makes the story so significant. Simon was never asked to die on it, he was just asked to carry it:
“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”-Matthew 16:24
That is the message of Jesus Christ still today, you carry the cross and Jesus will die on it. You and I were the one’s whose lives deserved death. Yet, despite this, many people complain that living for Christ is too demanding or that they have to give up too much to follow Him. It is as if they are saying, “I want Jesus to carry my cross AND die on it for me!” They don’t want to deny themselves and take responsibility for their own sinfulness. He mercifully took our penalty, but we must take responsibility for our sinfulness.
We must lay down our will. We must deny ourselves before we can take up our cross. The compelling difference between Jesus and Simon is that Simon was forced to carry the cross against his will where Jesus had laid down His will before He ever reached the cross.
You will never take up your cross and follow Jesus, until you first lay down your will. As you consider the Cross of Calvary today, begin by repenting of your sins, deny yourself, and remember that this is your cross!
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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