Simon, a Man of Cyrene
Only a few words describe Simon, a Man of Cyrene.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. (Matthew 27: 32)
In Mark we find a little more information.
21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. (Mark 15:21)
Luke adds one more small detail.
26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (Luke 23:26)
Sixteen verses are given to Simon the Sorcerer who tried to buy the gift of God with money, but only 3 verses are given to Simon, a man of Cyrene, In Matthew we learn that Simon was from Cyrene and that he was compelled to bear the cross. In Mark we learn that Simon came out of the country, that he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. And finally, in Luke we learn that he was made to bear the cross behind Jesus.
No one would want to trade places with Simon the Sorcerer, but I suppose every Christian would like to trade places with the anonymous Simon, a Man of Cyrene.
Though few would match the high drama of Simon, a Man of Cyrene who carried the cross of the Savior of the world, perhaps all of us have had defining moments in our lives which following nothing was ever the same. My personal opinion is that Simon was ordained to that high calling in the eternities before he even came to earth. There is president. The Lord said to the Prophet Jeremiah
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
What would a prophet of the stature of Jeremiah have in common with an obscure country boy named Simon. Well, more than meets the eye. Both were sent to earth at a pivotal time in history. During Jeremiah’s time the Jews were destroyed by war and taken captive into Babylon. Jeremiah himself was rejected by his own people because he didn’t tell them what they wanted to hear. During Simon’s time, Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to not only save Simon but to save the whole world. Simon was not at that crossroads to carry the cross of Christ by accident or coincidence or chance. He was there by the design of the Almighty God to assist the Savior of the world in his divine mission.
Now I ask, how is Simon different than us? Is there ever a time when Christ does not need our assistance in his great work. Are we not all an extension of his hands? Does he not work through his children when extending a helping hand?
In addition, we have the witnesses of the Birth of Christ. Matthew records the story of the Three Wise Men of the East.
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