Simon of Cyrene - Cross Carrier

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – December 13, 2020

Series Title: Discovering Your Life in the Life of Jesus

Today’s Title: Simon of Cyrene - Cross Carrier

Today’s Text: Mark 15:16-32

Gospel Parallels: Matthew 27:27-44, Luke 23:33-43, John 19:17-24

 

• JESUS IS ABUSED BY THE AUTHORITY OF EMPIRE- V16-26

 

• JESUS IS ABSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF RELIGION – V27-32

        3)   JESUS IS GETS HELP CARRYING THE CROSS - V21

- Weakened already, Jesus couldn’t carry the cross alone

 

Simon of Cyrene (Africa) – also in Matthew 27:32 & Luke 23:26

 

THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH -Acts 11:19-30

- Men from Cyprus and Cyrene (11:20)

- First place the gospel is preached to Gentiles (11:20)

- First place that followers of Jesus called “Christians” (11:26)

- Paul (Saul) spent a year there (11:25-26)

- they sent a love offering to Judea during a famine (11:27-30)

 

  A PROPHET CALLED “SIMEON OF NIGER” – Acts 12:25-13:3

                - Simeon is the same name as Simon

- “niger” means black, in Latin (African?)

                - listed along with another man from Cyrene (13:1)

 

MARK’S CONNECTIONS

- traveled with Paul & Barnabas - Acts 12:25 (40s AD)

- Timothy told to bring Mark to Rome – 2 Tim 4:11 (63AD)

- With Peter in Rome – “my son Mark” – 1 Peter 5:13 (64AD)

 

RUFUS AND HIS MOTHER – Romans 16:13

                - Mark’s gospel was written for the church in Rome

- Same “Rufus”? – why else would Mark make the effort to ID him?

                - Paul calls Rufus’s mother, “a mother to me” –Paul’s year in Antioch