Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked

Simon the Cyrenian

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2017-12-24

Synopsis: John Weaver examines Mark 15:21, focusing on Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry Jesus' cross. He explores the unexpected hour of Simon's calling and the unanticipated honor of serving Christ in His suffering. Weaver argues that Simon was likely a Jewish believer, evidenced by his sons Alexander and Rufus being prominent Christians. The sermon emphasizes that believers are called to take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials with faith, and finding meaning and honor only in serving God.

[John Weaver] Mark 15. Mark 15, verse 21. One verse. Mark 15, verse 21. The title of the message is, Simon the Cyrenian. Simon the Cyrenian. Look, if you would, please, at Mark 15 and verse 21. The Scripture says, 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. There are many Simons in the Bible, and we are certainly familiar with a few of them. The first one that would come to anyone's mind would be Simon Peter. And secondly, probably Simon the sorcerer, who is found in Acts chapter 8. And then there was also Simon the Tanner that you read about in Acts chapter 10. Now there's another Simon that few remember. He was the father of Judas Iscariot. For instance, in John 6 and verse 71, the Bible says he spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. For he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve." And then you get to John 13, verse 2, and supper being ended, the devil having now put in the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him.

[John Weaver] And then thirdly, in John 13, verse 6, Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. So when you hear Simon's son or the son of Simon, you probably should think of Judas Iscariot. It's amazing that his father's name is given to us over and over in the Scripture, and we very seldom connect the name Simon with Judas Iscariot. It's intriguing in one sense of the word to think that it was Simon's son who betrayed the Lord Jesus, which led to his crucifixion, and it was yet another Simon who helped our Lord carry His cross to the place of crucifixion. Now, initially, our Lord bore that cross Himself. For instance, if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19, John chapter 19, and look at verses 16 and 17.

[John Weaver] It was the design of the Romans to make the victim always carry the instrument of his death. So in John chapter 19, beginning there with verse 16, the Word of God says this, Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified, and they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth unto a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. So our Lord then would have been forced to carry the cross Himself all the way to Golgotha, Had he been able to do so?

[John Weaver] So we have to ask this question. Why was he not able to carry the cross all the way to Golgotha himself? Or we could ask the question another way. Why would he need help? You must remember that our Lord was raised in a carpenter's shop. And of course, you don't get weak doing carpentry work. He had a very strong body, that is for sure. But why would he need help?

[John Weaver] Well, let me just point several things out. And in doing so, I want you to turn to Matthew 27, because first of all, you'd have to understand that our Lord's trial initially was at night, which was unlawful, but yet He was up all night with a trial by the chief priests and the scribes. Notice, if you would, Matthew 27, verse 1, When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.

[John Weaver] And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. So all night long they had drilled our Lord and kept Him up all night long. And then when the morning was come, that's when they agreed that He was to be put to death. Of course, obviously, they had already predetermined that as well. But then our Lord went for a lengthy trial before Pilate.

[John Weaver] You can read about that yourself in verses 11 through 25. In fact, just verse 11,"...And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest." Or literally, the way you and I would say it, as you said it, buddy, You got that right, Jack. In other words, that's basically what he said.

[John Weaver] Yes, I am the Son of God. I am the King. And that's exactly what you said, and that is certainly the truth. Well, after the people chose Barabbas to be released, Pilate did something else. So if you'll skip down to Matthew 27 in verse 26, The Bible says this, Then released Heberabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

[John Weaver] Now watch, Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, And they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and they took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

[John Weaver] And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear the cross." So the Bible tells us once he released Barabbas unto them, The next thing that Pilate did was he had Jesus Christ scourged.

[John Weaver] Now, scourging was initially just simply by a rod. But to make the blows more severe and more painful, lashes were added to the rod. And not only were lashes added to the rod, usually they would take Pieces of iron or lead or rock or some sharp little something and tied to the end of the lash Thus when the rod hit and the lash is wrapped around the ribcage and they pull them back Then of course the

[John Weaver] flesh would be torn off and if you were beaten hard enough Down to the muscle the muscle will be exposed as well. So It's interesting that these These rods with the lashes and with the pieces of iron and lead in the end of them were called scorpions because they stung much like a scorpion. Now, if you've never been stung by a scorpion, you don't really understand that. But I remember when I was a little boy, I went down to the cow pen, and I don't remember if I was milking the cow or if Mother was milking the cow, but I was down there, and I saw this funny-looking little bug carrying his tail on his back, and I thought, well,

[John Weaver] let me check that one out. And I picked him up in my hand. I put him down very quickly, I can assure you, because he stung. But may I remind you, this is exactly what these things are called in 1 Kings 12 and verse 11. You remember how the people came to Rehoboam and said, look, if you'll make our burdens easier and lighter, we will serve you. And so Rehoboam then consulted with the old man. The old man said, look, if you'll serve the people, they'll be your service. But then the young man said, no, no, no. You've got to be hard-nosed with these people.

[John Weaver] You show them who is boss. And so in 1 Kings 12, verse 11, Rehoboam said to the people, now whereas my father did lay you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke, and my father chastise you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." In other words, this lash with all of these pieces of metal in it, referred to as a scorpion.

[John Weaver] Now, according to biblical law, you can only give a man 40 stripes. So the Jews then, in order to be accurate, would take a rod and they would add three lashes to it. So that meant once you hit a man thirteen times, there would be thirty-nine stripes. And so lest they go over, they would stop at that particular time. The Apostle Paul himself was scourged five times in this manner according to 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 24.

[John Weaver] But you have to remember this. It was the Roman soldiers who scourged Jesus. And the Roman soldiers did not feel themselves bound by God's law. And so consequently, they just simply scourged according to their pleasure, according to their leisure, until they got tired of it. So once the hide and the flesh and the skin had been peeled back Our Lord could indeed have been a bloody mess with His muscles showing. Moreover, I want you to look, on top of the scourging, the Bible says this, look if you would please, in verse 27, Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered in the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe, and

[John Weaver] when they had plaited a crown of thorns, They put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hao, king of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him upon the head."

[John Weaver] Now, the Greek word here signifies a bramble bush, thorns from the bramble bush. That crown was woven with very sharp pointed thorns. sharp enough to pierce not only his skin, but his brow as well. In all probability, these soldiers were not delicate. They probably pressed that crown of thorns down as hard as they could and as deeply as they could into his brow.

[John Weaver] Now, I don't know if you've ever been cut above the eye or over the forehead, but one thing is for sure, once you get a cut there, you will bleed profusely. In fact, the blood will cover your eyes and you'll find out exactly what is going on. But notice, if you would, what they said in verse 30. And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. So they gave him a reed. And now, if you look back in your Bibles, if you would, please, the Bible says, In verse 27, then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. So that means if each man took a time with the reed hitting him over the head, they were deliberately forcing those thorns deeper and deeper into his brow.

[John Weaver] Everything they did was to mock him to denigrate Him, and simply to ridicule Him. One author said this, and I liked it so well, I thought it would go well right here, since obviously they did not believe in Jesus Christ, and they did everything they could to mock Him. But the author said this, let the world do what it will to render the royalty and mysteries of Jesus Christ conceptible.

[John Weaver] It is my glory to serve a king thus debased, my salvation to adore that which the world despises, and my redemption to go unto God through the merits of him who was crowned with thorns." And that's certainly, certainly true. But it was after this mocking, after this scourging, after being beaten with the reed over the head with the crown of thorns on his brow, that Jesus now is delivered to be crucified.

[John Weaver] The crucifixion always took place without the gate of Jerusalem. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 12 and 13, Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." So now Jesus Christ is being forced to carry his cross. Undoubtedly our Lord had to be in great physical shape to endure such a beating and such a scourging and still be able initially to carry the cross. He was not able to carry it all the way So either Simon then was compelled to carry it for him, or at least to help him carry it by at least picking up the back part of it.

[John Weaver] Now today, I want to just share with you two thoughts. And I want you to look back at Mark chapter 15 and verse 21, because these two thoughts, I believe, fit very well into this one passage. In verse 21, And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear the cross. So the very first thing I'm going to give you is an unexpected hour. An unexpected hour. When Simon woke up that morning, he had no idea that he would be carrying the cross of Jesus Christ. It was unexpected. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And I'll explain that statement just a little bit later. But notice, if you would, in verse 21, And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country.

[John Weaver] Now, the word country is translated from the Greek word agros, agros. I hope that sounds familiar, like agriculture. Of course. The word agross is translated in our Bibles as field, 22 times. It is translated land, 4 times. It is translated farm, 1 time, and piece of ground, 1 time. It is also translated as country, 8 times.

[John Weaver] So obviously, Simon was already in the country of Judea. He was just out in a field. He was out on a farm. He could have been out in a village somewhere. So he was on his way back from that farm. Maybe he was carrying some wood or bringing some crops in, I don't know. He could have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. At any rate, he was a man of Cyrene. Now, just the very fact that he was a man of Cyrene does not indicate that he was a pagan. In fact, I'm going to show you that he probably indeed was not a pagan. He was an Israelite and probably a real believer. Cyrene was in Libya. It was Ptolemy Langus who had founded a Jewish colony in Cyrene in Libya. Libya is on the north coast of Africa.

[John Weaver] You have to remember that Cyrenians are mentioned several times in the Bible. For instance, if you will turn your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 2, you're going to read about the day of Pentecost. And believe it or not, there were men of Cyprus and Cyrene at the day of Pentecost. So look, if you would, in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 5. Acts 2, verse 5, and we'll read down through verse 11. Acts 2, verse 5, And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven.

[John Weaver] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they all were amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born, Barthenians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, and Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Aragons, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." So note, if you would please, Livia and Cyrene are particularly mentioned.

[John Weaver] And it may also surprise you that the Cyrenians had a synagogue in Jerusalem. If you will notice in Acts chapter 6 and verse 9, Acts 6 and verse 9, the Bible says, Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and with them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. So here were men of the synagogue of the Cyrenians.

[John Weaver] You remember, of course, there was persecution in the early church. Saul was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against all of these disciples. And, of course, they were scattered abroad. And if you look at Acts chapter 11, verses 19 and 20, we'll see what happened. Acts 11, verse 19, Now they which were scattered abroad about the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phinis and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus." So there were men of Cyrene who happened to be preaching the Lord Jesus. There were also Cyrenians in the church. So if you look in Acts chapter 13 and verse 1, Acts 13 verse 1, Now there was in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaeum, which had been brought up with Herod, the Tetrarch, and Saul.

[John Weaver] So there's Lucius of Cyrene. When the Bible tells us in Mark chapter 15 and verse 21 that they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, that does not indicate at all that he was a pagan in all probability. He was not only an Israelite, I'm going to show you I believe that he was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and to celebrate. And, of course, he may have bought a farm outside of Jerusalem. Who knows? The Bible does not tell us. The Bible just tells us he was coming from a farm or from a field.

[John Weaver] Whatever he was doing, he was in the right place at the right time. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, wow, I think I'm going to carry the cross for Jesus Christ today. It just did not come into his mind. But when he saw what was happening, the Romans may have chosen him at random. I don't know. The Bible does not say. He could have in some way indicated or shown sympathy toward Jesus Christ. And therefore, they would say, well, since you're showing sympathy, you'd be the one that'll help carry the cross. He may have been counted as a stranger unto them, but he was certainly not a stranger unto the truth. Now, the Bible says, him they compelled, that is, they impressed, to carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The Romans did not compel him to carry the cross of Jesus Christ out of pity or sympathy. They did not say, Look at Jesus. He's so weak.

[John Weaver] We beat Him so horribly. Let's have pity upon Him and have some wonder. No, no, no. There was no pity. There was no sympathy. They wanted Him to be crucified, and they were afraid that He might die before He got to the place of crucifixion, and so they wanted to make sure that He suffered all the indignity of crucifixion. They wanted him to suffer the disgraceful punishment that was reserved for slaves and criminals.

[John Weaver] Now Plutarch, who is a Greek essayist and biographer, said this, Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment. Just as every malefactor, when he is brought forth to execution, carries his own cross." So it was standard procedure then for the man who was going to be crucified to carry his own cross. But since Jesus Christ had been beaten so by the Roman soldiers, they compel Simon and he then helps carry the cross. You have to remember that the Roman soldiers had the authority to compel or impress anyone to carry their baggage or to carry their weapons for up to one mile. You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 in verse 21, and whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. You have to stop and think, this would have been highly honor us to a man who happened to be on his way somewhere, and he sees a Roman soldier, and the Roman soldier says, hey, you have to come carry my baggage and my equipment, and takes you a mile in a different direction.

[John Weaver] Well, our Lord says, you're not going to get angry. You're not going to get bitter. If you're compelled to go a mile, just go with him twain, just to make sure that there's no bitterness and there's no anger. The interesting thing is Simon, was probably not a man of means. If he had been a man of money, he probably would not have been out in the field doing work. Or if he was not out in the field doing work, he would not have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. He would have had the money to have stayed in Jerusalem.

[John Weaver] Undoubtedly, he was a peasant. He was a stranger to the Roman soldiers. The carrying of a cross was counted as absolutely detestable. Moreover, anyone who touched it would be counted as polluted. Whatever his circumstances, whether he was coming from work or whether he lived there, whether he was coming from a village, he was in the right place at the right time, and his calling at this unexpected hour was right in line with the principles of Scripture. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles, holding Mark 15, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Once you find 1 Corinthians chapter 1, I want to make a statement. I want you to think about this. They find one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, coming out of the fields. Him they compel to carry the cross. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Please remember this. They did not compel a king. It was not a king.

[John Weaver] It was not a prince. He was not an ambassador. He was not a diplomat. He was no person of position or high honor. He was a peasant, a lowly individual. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1, note if you would please, let's begin there with verse 26. He says, You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh Not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen ye, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence.

[John Weaver] But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made in us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord." Note, if you would please, he says, you see your calling, brethren, not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble, it was not the nobility that were called upon to carry the cross of Christ. It was a simple individual who believed. So here's an unexpected hour where Simon comes from his fields and he's called upon to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The second thing I want you to see is an anticipated honor. If you'll go back to verse 21 of Mark 15, Not only an unexpected hour, but an unanticipated honor. Verse 21, the Bible says, 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.

[John Weaver] Now, there's a principle in Scripture that is repeated over and over throughout the Bible. In 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 30, God says this, For them that honor me will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed, saith the Lord." So those that honor God, God is going to honor. Simon was honored by God in that he was allowed to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. Don't answer it out loud, and I will ask this question a little bit later. But here's the question. Had you been alive at that particular time, and had you been in the place of Simon, would you have been willing and ready to carry the cross of Jesus Christ? As a believer, each one of us would answer, yes. We would be willing to do that. Well, I said earlier, It was probably that Simon showed some sympathy toward Jesus Christ that made the Roman soldiers choose him. I not only believe that Simon was a true Israelite, I also believe that Simon was a true Christian, that he also trusted in Christ as Messiah and believed indeed in his salvation.

[John Weaver] Now what makes me think that? How can I say that? There's no scripture that says that Simon was saved. I understand that. But, if you look in verse 21 again, the Bible says,"...may compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country." And then this is added,"...the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear the cross." So what makes me think that Simon was a believer? The answer is because he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Alexander and Rufus were men of note and men of faith among the early disciples. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 19 and verse 31, Acts 19 and verse 31, and I don't have time to go over the entire context there, but there is a row, there is a riot almost in Acts chapter 19, because Paul and some of the other followers of Paul were here in Ephesus, and my goodness, these people were worshipers of Diana of the Ephesians. And the silversmiths had it in for Paul because when people got converted, they quit buying their wares.

[John Weaver] So there's a big row going on, and notice if you would please, the Bible says in Acts 19 verse 33, well, let's read verse 32. Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they, that is the Jews, they drew Alexander out of the multitude. In other words, they picked him. the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with his hand and would have made his defense unto them, unto the people, but when they knew that he was a Jew, All with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians." So the Jews put Alexander forward, not because that he was someone who was about to make a defense for the Jewish nation, but because he was a Christian, and they hated him as much as they hated the other idolaters, and they wanted Alexander put to death. In fact, John Gill, the great Baptist expositor, says it like this, The Jews putting him forward being equally enemies to him as being under a profession of Christianity.

[John Weaver] So since Alexander was a Christian, they wanted him put forward so that he would be mobbed and murdered. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 16, Romans 16, and notice if you would look, the Apostle Paul says in verse 13, Romans 16, and notice if you would please verse 13. Now the Apostle Paul says this, Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine. Now, Rufus would have been literally the son of his mother. And Paul is saying that she is figuratively my mother as well.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Let's see.

[John Weaver] Now, if Alexander and Rufus are both prominent Christians, and the mother of Rufus is a prominent Christian, whom even Paul has taken to calling her mother, and she's partially adopted him probably as her third son, Do you not think that Simon, the father, would also be a Christian and a believer? And the truth of the matter is, the Scripture demonstrates that these individuals were choice Christians, imminent in grace and gifts. Rufus is honorably mentioned by Polycarp. Now, Polycarp was one of the disciples of John the Apostle. In one of his epistles, Polycarp mentions Rufus. Also, Rufus supposedly became the Bishop of Spain, and Alexander suffered martyrdom. Now, if the sons of Simon, Alexander, and Rufus are the same mentioned by Luke and Paul, These men were men of note among the Christians. And undoubtedly, Simon would have been a believer as well, since Paul called his wife, figuratively speaking, his mother's well.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to Mark 15, verse 21. Let me show you something interesting. At least it was interesting to me, intriguing. Look in Mark 15, in verse 21. Before I get to the applications, I've got to point out this concept. Before I point it out, let me just say it like this. Names usually do not mean anything to us today. When I say that, all our names are just handles by which we are identified. Steve, David, John. They may be biblical names.

[John Weaver] But most people have no earthly idea what their name means. We know what a few names in the Bible mean because we read, like Samuel, Ask of the Lord. But in Bible times, usually names were given based upon an individual's character or because of some truth. And a lot of times the names were related to God. Elijah. Stop and think about what the word Elijah means. You remember our Lord cried, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Somebody says he's calling for Elijah.

[John Weaver] But what was he saying? My God, my God? If Eli refers to God, Yah, Yahweh, my God is Yahweh, my God is Jehovah. You see what I'm saying? Names meant something in Bible times. And so, when you look at verse 21, the Bible says,"...they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenaean, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross." The word Simon, the name Simon, literally means hearer, hearkener, obedient. Alexander means man defender. Rufus means red. It was Jesus Christ who heard, who hearkened and obeyed to the Father, who defended His own and gave His blood for our redemption. That is why in John 10 and verse 11, Jesus Christ said, I am the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep. In John 10 verses 14 and 15, He said, I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine, as the Father knoweth Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.

[John Weaver] So, in these three names, Simon, Alexander, and Rufus, we see the work of Jesus Christ set forth. In the fact that Jesus Christ is the one that heard, hearkened, and obeyed the Father, He defended His own, carried His cross, shed His blood, and saved His own. So let me put it to you plainly. It was not luck, chance, fate, or fortune that Simon happened to be and the right place at the right time.

[John Weaver] It was God's sovereign providence. So Simon and his sons, through their names, exemplified the saving work of Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, God has another lesson for you and I to learn, and that is this. Our lives have meaning and honor only as we serve Him. Stop and think. How hated and detestable was the cross. How polluted, ceremonially speaking, one became just by touching that instrument. And yet it was an honor.

[John Weaver] And here is a man whose name rings out through the ages. because he carried the cross of Jesus Christ. I just read this week, and some of you probably read as well, and if I remember correctly, I think the young man was 21. He murdered a couple of other people. And then he murdered himself. And he left a note, and he said this, and I'm quoting, Life sucks.

[John Weaver] I want out of it as quickly as I can get out of it." Twenty-one years of age! You wonder why our country is running crazy? Why suicide is on the rampage? We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God. And if there is no relationship to Him, most people think life is not worth living anyhow. Let me show you one other passage before I make the applications. I want you to look in Jeremiah chapter 9. Jeremiah chapter 9, and notice if you would please at verses 23 and 24. Jeremiah 9, verse 23, 24.

[John Weaver] Look what the Bible says. Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me. that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, saith the Lord." So God says, if you're wise, don't rejoice in your wisdom. If you're mighty, don't rejoice in your strength. If you're rich, don't rejoice in your money. If you're going to glory, glory in this. that we understand and know the Lord. And we understand and know that He's lovingly kind, He has righteous judgment, and He has righteousness in Himself. That's what He says we're delighted in.

[John Weaver] And without that, life is meaningless. That's why so many are taking their own lives.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. I asked earlier, if you had been alive and you were on the scene and you were impressed, you were compelled to carry the cross of Jesus Christ, would you have done so? And the answer for a believer is yes. Well, let me just put it like this. That part of history is over and done with. We really need not concern ourselves about that question in one sense of the word, because it will never be repeated again. Jesus Christ, the Bible says, died once and for all.

[John Weaver] He's not going to die again. No one will have to carry that cross again. Simon was called at that unexpected hour and given that unanticipated honor. He was the one that carried that cross. So the question is, not would we be willing to have carried the cross back then, but are we willing now to carry whatever crosses He places upon us? Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to two passages.

[John Weaver] First of all, Matthew 16. Then we're going to Luke 9, okay? Look in Matthew 16, and we'll begin reading there verse 24, and then we'll go to Luke 9. So look at Matthew 16 and verse 24. These two passages are essentially the same, and yet one adds something that we need to really meditate on. Matthew 16, verse 24,"...then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Wow. You have to willingly take up your cross by denying yourself and follow Christ.

[John Weaver] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? So our Lord says, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." So, there's a cross that we have.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 9, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Luke 9 and verse 23. There's an additional word. I want you to see it. Luke 9, verse 23. And He said unto them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross," what's that next word? Daily."...and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall find it, or save it. For what is a man's advantage if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" So there's a sense that we have a daily cross in that. We have to deny our flesh, our lusts, and eating everything that's contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

[John Weaver] You remember what the Apostle Paul said, I die? How often did he die? Daily, daily, daily. So we have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be. And it should be the love of Christ that constrains us to carry that cross. Let me point something else out. May I remind you that the very first point that I made was an unexpected hour. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, I think I'm going to carry the cross of Jesus Christ today. No. Something happened over which Simon had absolutely no control and over which he did not plan for."

[John Weaver] So in God's sovereign providence, things happen that you and I have never planned for. We never hardly think about. I preached for 53 years. I never kept a record of how many people I married, and how many people I buried. I never kept the record of how many people that I watched die. I've seen people die quickly. I've seen people suffer a great length of time. And here's an astounding thing. I have been with people who were very, very sick, on the edge of death innumerable times, and yet, When that person finally did die, the family would say, well, we knew it was going to happen, but we didn't expect it so soon. Stop and think about that. We die.

[John Weaver] Sometimes it will be unexpected. It may be your husband. It may be your wife. It may be your child. It may be you. But it's something that We didn't wake up that morning and say, I think I'll die today. Let me show you. I want you to look in your Bible, John 21, John 21. Here's a good illustration of what I'm talking about. It's what our Lord told Peter, John 21. You remember three times Peter denied Christ and three times Christ asked Peter, do you love me? Well, after Peter said, Yes, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You. Look in verse 18. Here's what our Lord told Peter, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest.

[John Weaver] That is, you did pretty much what you wanted to do. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This faith he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me." In other words, Peter was crucified as well. So he said, when you were young, you girded yourself and did what you wanted to do. When you got old, and when it came your time to die, this is how you're going to die. Well, I'm sure Peter did not expect to be crucified, and yet, He was. All I'm trying to say is this, there are unexpected crosses that we have to bear and we have to face. And we have to make sure that we face those crosses and bear those crosses so that we may honor Jesus Christ, whatever that cross may be.

[John Weaver] We must learn to not only rejoice in Him, but to suffer with Him. That's why He said, let us go forth unto Him without the gate bearing His reproach. Our Lord said it like this in John 12 in verse 26, If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. And where I am, There will my servant also be. So we're to be with Jesus Christ in rejoicing and in glory and in humility and in reproach. Wherever he is, that's where we're to be.

[John Weaver] And they found one Simon the Cyrenian coming out of the country. And they compelled him to bear the cross of Jesus Christ. We need to bear our crosses without being compelled. And we need to do it for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, help us in the name of Jesus Christ to learn from Simon an unexpected hour and an unanticipated honor. Help us, Lord, not only to be willing to rejoice with Thee and be with Thee in glory, but to suffer with Thee and be with Thee in reproach. Enable us, Lord, to always do those things which will please Thee and glorify Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.

Simon the Cyrenian

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1224171912460
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-12-24
Dictation Name
Book	Book 136: Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations - Volume 1 — Chapter 18
Source Timed Segments	65

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Many Simons of Scripture

Weaver introduces Simon the Cyrenian by contrasting him with other biblical Simons, including Simon Peter, Simon the sorcerer, and Simon the father of Judas Iscariot.

Mark 15. Mark 15, verse 21. One verse. Mark 15, verse 21. The title of the message is, "Simon the Cyrenian." Simon the Cyrenian. Look, if you would, please, at Mark 15 and verse 21. The Scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 15:21

"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."

There are many Simons in the Bible, and we are certainly familiar with a few of them. The first one that would come to anyone's mind would be Simon Peter. And secondly, probably Simon the sorcerer, who is found in Acts chapter 8. And then there was also Simon the Tanner that you read about in Acts chapter 10. Now there's another Simon that few remember. He was the father of Judas Iscariot. For instance, in John 6 and verse 71, the Bible says, "He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve." And then you get to John 13, verse 2, "And supper being ended, the devil having now put in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him."

And then thirdly, in John 13, verse 6,

Scripture Reading — John 6:71

"Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon."

So when you hear "Simon's son" or "the son of Simon," you probably should think of Judas Iscariot. It's amazing that his father's name is given to us over and over in the Scripture, and we very seldom connect the name Simon with Judas Iscariot. It's intriguing in one sense of the word to think that it was Simon's son who betrayed the Lord Jesus, which led to his crucifixion, and it was yet another Simon who helped our Lord carry His cross to the place of crucifixion. Now, initially, our Lord bore that cross Himself. For instance, if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19, John chapter 19, and look at verses 16 and 17.

It was the design of the Romans to make the victim always carry the instrument of his death. So in John chapter 19, beginning there with verse 16, the Word of God says this,

Scripture Reading — John 19:16-17

"Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified, and they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth unto a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha."

So our Lord then would have been forced to carry the cross Himself all the way to Golgotha, had He been able to do so.

Why Jesus Needed Help Carrying the Cross

Weaver explains that Jesus was physically weakened by an all-night trial, scourging, and mocking by Roman soldiers, making Him unable to carry the cross the entire way.

So we have to ask this question. Why was He not able to carry the cross all the way to Golgotha Himself? Or we could ask the question another way. Why would He need help? You must remember that our Lord was raised in a carpenter's shop. And of course, you don't get weak doing carpentry work. He had a very strong body, that is for sure. But why would He need help?

Well, let me just point several things out. And in doing so, I want you to turn to Matthew 27, because first of all, you'd have to understand that our Lord's trial initially was at night, which was unlawful, but yet He was up all night with a trial by the chief priests and the scribes. Notice, if you would, Matthew 27, verse 1,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:1-2

"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death."

And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. So all night long they had drilled our Lord and kept Him up all night long. And then when the morning was come, that's when they agreed that He was to be put to death. Of course, obviously, they had already predetermined that as well. But then our Lord went for a lengthy trial before Pilate.

You can read about that yourself in verses 11 through 25. In fact, just verse 11, "...And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest." Or literally, the way you and I would say it, "As you said it, buddy. You got that right, Jack." In other words, that's basically what He said. Yes, I am the Son of God. I am the King. And that's exactly what you said, and that is certainly the truth. Well, after the people chose Barabbas to be released, Pilate did something else. So if you'll skip down to Matthew 27 in verse 26, the Bible says this, "Then released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified."

Now watch, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and they took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him." And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear the cross." So the Bible tells us once he released Barabbas unto them, the next thing that Pilate did was he had Jesus Christ scourged.

Now, scourging was initially just simply by a rod. But to make the blows more severe and more painful, lashes were added to the rod. And not only were lashes added to the rod, usually they would take pieces of iron or lead or rock or some sharp little something and tied to the end of the lash. Thus when the rod hit and the lash is wrapped around the ribcage and they pull them back, then of course the flesh would be torn off and if you were beaten hard enough down to the muscle the muscle will be exposed as well. So it's interesting that these rods with the lashes and with the pieces of iron and lead in the end of them were called scorpions because they stung much like a scorpion. Now, if you've never been stung by a scorpion, you don't really understand that. But I remember when I was a little boy, I went down to the cow pen, and I don't remember if I was milking the cow or if Mother was milking the cow, but I was down there, and I saw this funny-looking little bug carrying his tail on his back, and I thought, well,

let me check that one out. And I picked him up in my hand. I put him down very quickly, I can assure you, because he stung. But may I remind you, this is exactly what these things are called in 1 Kings 12 and verse 11. You remember how the people came to Rehoboam and said, "Look, if you'll make our burdens easier and lighter, we will serve you." And so Rehoboam then consulted with the old men. The old men said, "Look, if you'll serve the people, they'll be your servants." But then the young men said, "No, no, no. You've got to be hard-nosed with these people."

You show them who is boss. And so in 1 Kings 12, verse 11, Rehoboam said to the people,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12:11

"Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

In other words, this lash with all of these pieces of metal in it, referred to as a scorpion. Now, according to biblical law, you can only give a man 40 stripes. So the Jews then, in order to be accurate, would take a rod and they would add three lashes to it. So that meant once you hit a man thirteen times, there would be thirty-nine stripes. And so lest they go over, they would stop at that particular time. The Apostle Paul himself was scourged five times in this manner according to 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 24.

But you have to remember this. It was the Roman soldiers who scourged Jesus. And the Roman soldiers did not feel themselves bound by God's law. And so consequently, they just simply scourged according to their pleasure, according to their leisure, until they got tired of it. So once the hide and the flesh and the skin had been peeled back, our Lord could indeed have been a bloody mess with His muscles showing. Moreover, I want you to look, on top of the scourging, the Bible says this, look if you would please, in verse 27, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered in the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe, and

when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him upon the head." Now, the Greek word here signifies a bramble bush, thorns from the bramble bush. That crown was woven with very sharp pointed thorns, sharp enough to pierce not only his skin, but his brow as well. In all probability, these soldiers were not delicate. They probably pressed that crown of thorns down as hard as they could and as deeply as they could into his brow.

Now, I don't know if you've ever been cut above the eye or over the forehead, but one thing is for sure, once you get a cut there, you will bleed profusely. In fact, the blood will cover your eyes and you'll find out exactly what is going on. But notice, if you would, what they said in verse 30. "And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head." So they gave him a reed. And now, if you look back in your Bibles, if you would, please, the Bible says, in verse 27, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers." So that means if each man took a time with the reed hitting him over the head, they were deliberately forcing those thorns deeper and deeper into his brow.

Everything they did was to mock Him, to denigrate Him, and simply to ridicule Him. One author said this, and I liked it so well, I thought it would go well right here, since obviously they did not believe in Jesus Christ, and they did everything they could to mock Him. But the author said this, "Let the world do what it will to render the royalty and mysteries of Jesus Christ contemptible. It is my glory to serve a king thus debased, my salvation to adore that which the world despises, and my redemption to go unto God through the merits of him who was crowned with thorns." And that's certainly, certainly true. But it was after this mocking, after this scourging, after being beaten with the reed over the head with the crown of thorns on his brow, that Jesus now is delivered to be crucified.

The crucifixion always took place without the gate of Jerusalem. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 12 and 13,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:12-13

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

So now Jesus Christ is being forced to carry his cross. Undoubtedly our Lord had to be in great physical shape to endure such a beating and such a scourging and still be able initially to carry the cross. He was not able to carry it all the way. So either Simon then was compelled to carry it for him, or at least to help him carry it by at least picking up the back part of it.

An Unexpected Hour

Simon did not plan to carry the cross; he was unexpectedly compelled by Roman soldiers while coming from the country. Weaver suggests Simon was a Jewish believer, not a pagan.

Now today, I want to just share with you two thoughts. And I want you to look back at Mark chapter 15 and verse 21, because these two thoughts, I believe, fit very well into this one passage. In verse 21, "And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear the cross." So the very first thing I'm going to give you is an unexpected hour. An unexpected hour. When Simon woke up that morning, he had no idea that he would be carrying the cross of Jesus Christ. It was unexpected. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And I'll explain that statement just a little bit later. But notice, if you would, in verse 21, "And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country."

Now, the word "country" is translated from the Greek word agros, agros. I hope that sounds familiar, like agriculture. Of course. The word agros is translated in our Bibles as "field" 22 times. It is translated "land" 4 times. It is translated "farm" 1 time, and "piece of ground" 1 time. It is also translated as "country" 8 times.

So obviously, Simon was already in the country of Judea. He was just out in a field. He was out on a farm. He could have been out in a village somewhere. So he was on his way back from that farm. Maybe he was carrying some wood or bringing some crops in, I don't know. He could have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. At any rate, he was a man of Cyrene. Now, just the very fact that he was a man of Cyrene does not indicate that he was a pagan. In fact, I'm going to show you that he probably indeed was not a pagan. He was an Israelite and probably a real believer. Cyrene was in Libya. It was Ptolemy Lagus who had founded a Jewish colony in Cyrene in Libya. Libya is on the north coast of Africa.

You have to remember that Cyrenians are mentioned several times in the Bible. For instance, if you will turn your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 2, you're going to read about the day of Pentecost. And believe it or not, there were men of Cyprus and Cyrene at the day of Pentecost. So look, if you would, in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 5. Acts 2, verse 5, and we'll read down through verse 11. Acts 2, verse 5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven."

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:5-11

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they all were amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, and Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

So note, if you would please, Libya and Cyrene are particularly mentioned. And it may also surprise you that the Cyrenians had a synagogue in Jerusalem. If you will notice in Acts chapter 6 and verse 9, Acts 6 and verse 9, the Bible says, "Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and with them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen." So here were men of the synagogue of the Cyrenians.

You remember, of course, there was persecution in the early church. Saul was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against all of these disciples. And, of course, they were scattered abroad. And if you look at Acts chapter 11, verses 19 and 20, we'll see what happened. Acts 11, verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Acts 11:19-20

"Now they which were scattered abroad about the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus."

So there were men of Cyrene who happened to be preaching the Lord Jesus. There were also Cyrenians in the church. So if you look in Acts chapter 13 and verse 1, Acts 13 verse 1, "Now there was in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod, the Tetrarch, and Saul."

So there's Lucius of Cyrene. When the Bible tells us in Mark chapter 15 and verse 21 that they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, that does not indicate at all that he was a pagan. In all probability, he was not only an Israelite, I'm going to show you I believe that he was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and to celebrate. And, of course, he may have bought a farm outside of Jerusalem. Who knows? The Bible does not tell us. The Bible just tells us he was coming from a farm or from a field.

Whatever he was doing, he was in the right place at the right time. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, "Wow, I think I'm going to carry the cross for Jesus Christ today." It just did not come into his mind. But when he saw what was happening, the Romans may have chosen him at random. I don't know. The Bible does not say. He could have in some way indicated or shown sympathy toward Jesus Christ. And therefore, they would say, "Well, since you're showing sympathy, you'd be the one that'll help carry the cross." He may have been counted as a stranger unto them, but he was certainly not a stranger unto the truth. Now, the Bible says, "him they compelled," that is, they impressed, to carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The Romans did not compel him to carry the cross of Jesus Christ out of pity or sympathy. They did not say, "Look at Jesus. He's so weak.

We beat Him so horribly. Let's have pity upon Him and have some..." No, no, no. There was no pity. There was no sympathy. They wanted Him to be crucified, and they were afraid that He might die before He got to the place of crucifixion, and so they wanted to make sure that He suffered all the indignity of crucifixion. They wanted Him to suffer the disgraceful punishment that was reserved for slaves and criminals.

Now Plutarch, who is a Greek essayist and biographer, said this, "Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment. Just as every malefactor, when he is brought forth to execution, carries his own cross." So it was standard procedure then for the man who was going to be crucified to carry his own cross. But since Jesus Christ had been beaten so by the Roman soldiers, they compel Simon and he then helps carry the cross. You have to remember that the Roman soldiers had the authority to compel or impress anyone to carry their baggage or to carry their weapons for up to one mile. You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 in verse 41, "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." You have to stop and think, this would have been highly honorous to a man who happened to be on his way somewhere, and he sees a Roman soldier, and the Roman soldier says, "Hey, you have to come carry my baggage and my equipment," and takes you a mile in a different direction.

Well, our Lord says, you're not going to get angry. You're not going to get bitter. If you're compelled to go a mile, just go with him twain, just to make sure that there's no bitterness and there's no anger. The interesting thing is Simon was probably not a man of means. If he had been a man of money, he probably would not have been out in the field doing work. Or if he was not out in the field doing work, he would not have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. He would have had the money to have stayed in Jerusalem.

Undoubtedly, he was a peasant. He was a stranger to the Roman soldiers. The carrying of a cross was counted as absolutely detestable. Moreover, anyone who touched it would be counted as polluted. Whatever his circumstances, whether he was coming from work or whether he lived there, whether he was coming from a village, he was in the right place at the right time, and his calling at this unexpected hour was right in line with the principles of Scripture. Let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles, holding Mark 15, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Once you find 1 Corinthians chapter 1, I want to make a statement. I want you to think about this. They find one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, coming out of the fields. Him they compel to carry the cross. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Please remember this. They did not compel a king. It was not a king.

It was not a prince. He was not an ambassador. He was not a diplomat. He was no person of position or high honor. He was a peasant, a lowly individual. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1, note if you would please, let's begin there with verse 26. He says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

"You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen ye, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence."

But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made in us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord." Note, if you would please, he says, "You see your calling, brethren, not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble." It was not the nobility that were called upon to carry the cross of Christ. It was a simple individual who believed. So here's an unexpected hour where Simon comes from his fields and he's called upon to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The second thing I want you to see is an unanticipated honor. If you'll go back to verse 21 of Mark 15, not only an unexpected hour, but an unanticipated honor. Verse 21, the Bible says, "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."

An Unanticipated Honor

Carrying the cross was detestable, yet it became an honor for Simon. Weaver argues Simon was a believer based on his sons Alexander and Rufus being noted Christians.

Now, there's a principle in Scripture that is repeated over and over throughout the Bible. In 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 30, God says this,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:30

"For them that honor me will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed, saith the Lord."

So those that honor God, God is going to honor. Simon was honored by God in that he was allowed to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ.

Now let me ask you a question. Don't answer it out loud, and I will ask this question a little bit later. But here's the question. Had you been alive at that particular time, and had you been in the place of Simon, would you have been willing and ready to carry the cross of Jesus Christ? As a believer, each one of us would answer, yes. We would be willing to do that. Well, I said earlier, it was probably that Simon showed some sympathy toward Jesus Christ that made the Roman soldiers choose him. I not only believe that Simon was a true Israelite, I also believe that Simon was a true Christian, that he also trusted in Christ as Messiah and believed indeed in his salvation.

Now what makes me think that? How can I say that? There's no scripture that says that Simon was saved. I understand that. But, if you look in verse 21 again, the Bible says, "...they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country." And then this is added, "...the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear the cross." So what makes me think that Simon was a believer? The answer is because he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Alexander and Rufus were men of note and men of faith among the early disciples. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 19 and verse 31, Acts 19 and verse 31, and I don't have time to go over the entire context there, but there is a row, there is a riot almost in Acts chapter 19, because Paul and some of the other followers of Paul were here in Ephesus, and my goodness, these people were worshipers of Diana of the Ephesians. And the silversmiths had it in for Paul because when people got converted, they quit buying their wares.

So there's a big row going on, and notice if you would please, the Bible says in Acts 19 verse 33, well, let's read verse 32.

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they, that is the Jews, they drew Alexander out of the multitude."

In other words, they picked him, the Jews putting him forward.

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"And Alexander beckoned with his hand and would have made his defense unto them, unto the people, but when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

So the Jews put Alexander forward, not because that he was someone who was about to make a defense for the Jewish nation, but because he was a Christian, and they hated him as much as they hated the other idolaters, and they wanted Alexander put to death. In fact, John Gill, the great Baptist expositor, says it like this,

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"The Jews putting him forward being equally enemies to him as being under a profession of Christianity."

So since Alexander was a Christian, they wanted him put forward so that he would be mobbed and murdered. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 16, Romans 16, and notice if you would look, the Apostle Paul says in verse 13, Romans 16, and notice if you would please verse 13. Now the Apostle Paul says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 16:13

"Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine."

Now, Rufus would have been literally the son of his mother. And Paul is saying that she is figuratively my mother as well.

Now, let me ask you a question. Let's see. Now, if Alexander and Rufus are both prominent Christians, and the mother of Rufus is a prominent Christian, whom even Paul has taken to calling her mother, and she's partially adopted him probably as her third son, do you not think that Simon, the father, would also be a Christian and a believer? And the truth of the matter is, the Scripture demonstrates that these individuals were choice Christians, eminent in grace and gifts. Rufus is honorably mentioned by Polycarp. Now, Polycarp was one of the disciples of John the Apostle. In one of his epistles, Polycarp mentions Rufus. Also, Rufus supposedly became the Bishop of Spain, and Alexander suffered martyrdom. Now, if the sons of Simon, Alexander, and Rufus are the same mentioned by Luke and Paul, these men were men of note among the Christians. And undoubtedly, Simon would have been a believer as well, since Paul called his wife, figuratively speaking, his mother as well.

Now, I want you to go back to Mark 15, verse 21. Let me show you something interesting. At least it was interesting to me, intriguing. Look in Mark 15, in verse 21. Before I get to the applications, I've got to point out this concept. Before I point it out, let me just say it like this. Names usually do not mean anything to us today. When I say that, all our names are just handles by which we are identified. Steve, David, John. They may be biblical names.

The Significance of the Names

Weaver highlights the meanings of Simon (hearer), Alexander (man defender), and Rufus (red) as reflecting Christ's work of obedience, defense, and redemption.

But most people have no earthly idea what their name means. We know what a few names in the Bible mean because we read, like Samuel, "Ask of the Lord." But in Bible times, usually names were given based upon an individual's character or because of some truth. And a lot of times the names were related to God. Elijah. Stop and think about what the word Elijah means. You remember our Lord cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Somebody says he's calling for Elijah.

But what was he saying? "My God, my God." If Eli refers to God, Yah, Yahweh, my God is Yahweh, my God is Jehovah. You see what I'm saying? Names meant something in Bible times. And so, when you look at verse 21, the Bible says, "...they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross." The word Simon, the name Simon, literally means hearer, hearkener, obedient. Alexander means man defender. Rufus means red. It was Jesus Christ who heard, who hearkened and obeyed to the Father, who defended His own and gave His blood for our redemption. That is why in John 10 and verse 11, Jesus Christ said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep." In John 10 verses 14 and 15, He said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine, as the Father knoweth Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep."

So, in these three names, Simon, Alexander, and Rufus, we see the work of Jesus Christ set forth. In the fact that Jesus Christ is the one that heard, hearkened, and obeyed the Father, He defended His own, carried His cross, shed His blood, and saved His own. So let me put it to you plainly. It was not luck, chance, fate, or fortune that Simon happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was God's sovereign providence. So Simon and his sons, through their names, exemplified the saving work of Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, God has another lesson for you and I to learn, and that is this. Our lives have meaning and honor only as we serve Him. Stop and think. How hated and detestable was the cross. How polluted, ceremonially speaking, one became just by touching that instrument. And yet it was an honor.

Application: Taking Up Our Cross Daily

Believers are called to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials with faith and finding meaning only in knowing and serving God.

And here is a man whose name rings out through the ages because he carried the cross of Jesus Christ. I just read this week, and some of you probably read as well, and if I remember correctly, I think the young man was 21. He murdered a couple of other people. And then he murdered himself. And he left a note, and he said this, and I'm quoting, "Life sucks. I want out of it as quickly as I can get out of it." Twenty-one years of age! You wonder why our country is running crazy? Why suicide is on the rampage? We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God. And if there is no relationship to Him, most people think life is not worth living anyhow. Let me show you one other passage before I make the applications. I want you to look in Jeremiah chapter 9. Jeremiah chapter 9, and notice if you would please at verses 23 and 24. Jeremiah 9, verse 23, 24.

Look what the Bible says. "Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, saith the Lord." So God says, if you're wise, don't rejoice in your wisdom. If you're mighty, don't rejoice in your strength. If you're rich, don't rejoice in your money. If you're going to glory, glory in this: that we understand and know the Lord. And we understand and know that He's lovingly kind, He has righteous judgment, and He has righteousness in Himself. That's what He says we're delighted in.

And without that, life is meaningless. That's why so many are taking their own lives. Now, let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. I asked earlier, if you had been alive and you were on the scene and you were impressed, you were compelled to carry the cross of Jesus Christ, would you have done so? And the answer for a believer is yes. Well, let me just put it like this. That part of history is over and done with. We really need not concern ourselves about that question in one sense of the word, because it will never be repeated again. Jesus Christ, the Bible says, died once and for all.

He's not going to die again. No one will have to carry that cross again. Simon was called at that unexpected hour and given that unanticipated honor. He was the one that carried that cross. So the question is, not would we be willing to have carried the cross back then, but are we willing now to carry whatever crosses He places upon us? Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to two passages.

First of all, Matthew 16. Then we're going to Luke 9, okay? Look in Matthew 16, and we'll begin reading there verse 24, and then we'll go to Luke 9. So look at Matthew 16 and verse 24. These two passages are essentially the same, and yet one adds something that we need to really meditate on. Matthew 16, verse 24,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:24-26

"...then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Wow. You have to willingly take up your cross by denying yourself and follow Christ.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? So our Lord says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." So, there's a cross that we have. Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 9, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Luke 9 and verse 23. There's an additional word. I want you to see it. Luke 9, verse 23. "And He said unto them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross," what's that next word? "Daily." "...and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall find it, or save it. For what is a man's advantage if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" So there's a sense that we have a daily cross in that. We have to deny our flesh, our lusts, and everything that's contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

You remember what the Apostle Paul said, "I die"? How often did he die? Daily, daily, daily. So we have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be. And it should be the love of Christ that constrains us to carry that cross. Let me point something else out. May I remind you that the very first point that I made was an unexpected hour. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, "I think I'm going to carry the cross of Jesus Christ today." No. Something happened over which Simon had absolutely no control and over which he did not plan for.

So in God's sovereign providence, things happen that you and I have never planned for. We never hardly think about. I preached for 53 years. I never kept a record of how many people I married, and how many people I buried. I never kept the record of how many people that I watched die. I've seen people die quickly. I've seen people suffer a great length of time. And here's an astounding thing. I have been with people who were very, very sick, on the edge of death innumerable times, and yet, when that person finally did die, the family would say, "Well, we knew it was going to happen, but we didn't expect it so soon." Stop and think about that. We die.

Sometimes it will be unexpected. It may be your husband. It may be your wife. It may be your child. It may be you. But it's something that we didn't wake up that morning and say, "I think I'll die today." Let me show you. I want you to look in your Bible, John 21, John 21. Here's a good illustration of what I'm talking about. It's what our Lord told Peter, John 21. You remember three times Peter denied Christ and three times Christ asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Well, after Peter said, "Yes, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You." Look in verse 18. Here's what our Lord told Peter, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest."

That is, you did pretty much what you wanted to do. "But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me." In other words, Peter was crucified as well. So he said, when you were young, you girded yourself and did what you wanted to do. When you got old, and when it came your time to die, this is how you're going to die. Well, I'm sure Peter did not expect to be crucified, and yet, he was. All I'm trying to say is this, there are unexpected crosses that we have to bear and we have to face. And we have to make sure that we face those crosses and bear those crosses so that we may honor Jesus Christ, whatever that cross may be.

We must learn to not only rejoice in Him, but to suffer with Him. That's why He said, "Let us go forth unto Him without the gate bearing His reproach." Our Lord said it like this in John 12 in verse 26, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. And where I am, there will my servant also be." So we're to be with Jesus Christ in rejoicing and in glory and in humility and in reproach. Wherever He is, that's where we're to be. And they found one Simon the Cyrenian coming out of the country. And they compelled him to bear the cross of Jesus Christ. We need to bear our crosses without being compelled. And we need to do it for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, help us in the name of Jesus Christ to learn from Simon an unexpected hour and an unanticipated honor. Help us, Lord, not only to be willing to rejoice with Thee and be with Thee in glory, but to suffer with Thee and be with Thee in reproach. Enable us, Lord, to always do those things which will please Thee and glorify Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Divine Providence in Unexpected Callings

Summary: Simon's encounter with Jesus was not by chance but by God's sovereign plan, placing him at the right place and time to serve Christ.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It was not luck, chance, fate, or fortune that Simon happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was God's sovereign providence.'

Honor in Serving Christ Through Suffering

Summary: Carrying the cross, though detestable and polluting, became an honor for Simon, illustrating that true honor comes from serving Christ in humility.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'How hated and detestable was the cross... And yet it was an honor. And here is a man whose name rings out through the ages because he carried the cross of Jesus Christ.'

The Believer's Daily Cross

Summary: Christians are called to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials and suffering for Christ's sake.

Evidence: Weaver cites Luke 9:23, emphasizing the word 'daily,' and states, 'We have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be.'

Life's Meaning Found Only in Knowing God

Summary: Without a relationship with God, life is meaningless, leading to despair; true glory is in understanding and knowing the Lord.

Evidence: Weaver references Jeremiah 9:23-24 and comments on a suicide note, saying, 'We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God.'

Key Arguments

Simon was likely a Jewish believer, not a pagan

Summary: Weaver argues that Simon's Cyrenian origin does not imply paganism; Cyrene had a Jewish colony, and his sons Alexander and Rufus were prominent Christians, suggesting Simon was also a believer.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'In all probability, he was not only an Israelite, I'm going to show you I believe that he was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.' He then cites Acts 19:33 and Romans 16:13 regarding Alexander and Rufus.

Jesus' physical suffering necessitated help

Summary: Jesus was weakened by an illegal night trial, Roman scourging beyond Jewish limits, and mocking that drove thorns into His brow, making Him unable to carry the cross alone.

Evidence: Weaver details the scourging with scorpions and the crown of thorns, stating, 'They were deliberately forcing those thorns deeper and deeper into his brow.'

God chooses the lowly to confound the wise

Summary: Simon was a peasant, not a person of status, aligning with 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that God uses the weak and base things to glorify Himself.

Evidence: Weaver reads 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 and states, 'It was not the nobility that were called upon to carry the cross of Christ. It was a simple individual who believed.'

The names Simon, Alexander, and Rufus typify Christ's work

Summary: The meanings of the names—hearer, man defender, red—point to Jesus' obedience, defense of His people, and blood redemption.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'In these three names, Simon, Alexander, and Rufus, we see the work of Jesus Christ set forth.'

Scripture References

Mark 15:21

Context: The central text: Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus' cross.

John 6:71

Context: Mentioned to show Simon as the father of Judas Iscariot.

John 13:2, 26

Context: Further references to Judas as Simon's son.

John 19:16-17

Context: Jesus initially bore His own cross.

Matthew 27:1-2

Context: Jesus' trial at night and delivery to Pilate.

Matthew 27:26-31

Context: Scourging, mocking, and leading away to crucify.

1 Kings 12:11

Context: Rehoboam's threat to chastise with scorpions, illustrating the scourge.

2 Corinthians 11:24

Context: Paul received thirty-nine stripes five times.

Hebrews 13:12-13

Context: Jesus suffered outside the gate; believers are to bear His reproach.

Acts 2:5-11

Context: Cyrenians present at Pentecost, showing Jewish presence in Cyrene.

Acts 6:9

Context: Synagogue of the Cyrenians in Jerusalem.

Acts 11:19-20

Context: Men of Cyprus and Cyrene preaching the Lord Jesus.

Acts 13:1

Context: Lucius of Cyrene listed among prophets and teachers in Antioch.

Matthew 5:41

Context: Compelled to go a mile; Roman authority to impress service.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Context: God chooses the foolish, weak, and base things to confound the wise.

1 Samuel 2:30

Context: Those who honor God will be honored.

Acts 19:32-34

Context: Alexander put forward by Jews in Ephesus, likely a Christian.

Romans 16:13

Context: Rufus chosen in the Lord; Paul greets him and his mother.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Context: Glory only in knowing and understanding the Lord.

Matthew 16:24-26

Context: Take up your cross and follow Christ.

Historical References

Plutarch

Context: Greek essayist and biographer quoted: 'Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment, just as every malefactor... carries his own cross.'

John Gill

Context: Baptist expositor cited regarding Alexander being put forward by Jews because he was a Christian.

Polycarp

Context: Disciple of John the Apostle; mentioned Rufus honorably in an epistle.

Ptolemy Lagus

Context: Founded a Jewish colony in Cyrene, Libya.

Important Quotes

How hated and detestable was the cross. How polluted, ceremonially speaking, one became just by touching that instrument. And yet it was an honor.

Significance: Contrasts the world's view of the cross with the honor of serving Christ, a key application point.

We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God.

Significance: Central application: life's meaning is found only in knowing God, countering despair.

We have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be. And it should be the love of Christ that constrains us to carry that cross.

Significance: Practical application of daily cross-bearing motivated by love for Christ.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding Simon's likely identity as a Jewish believer change our view of his role in the crucifixion?

Context: Weaver argues Simon was not a pagan but a believer, based on his sons' prominence.

In what ways do unexpected trials serve as 'crosses' in our lives, and how can we respond in faith?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that crosses often come unexpectedly, like Simon's calling.

What does it mean to 'take up your cross daily' in practical terms, and how does this relate to denying oneself?

Context: Weaver cites Luke 9:23 and discusses daily dying to self.

How can we find honor and meaning in serving Christ when the world despises such service?

Context: Weaver contrasts the world's contempt for the cross with the honor of carrying it.

Why is knowing God the only true source of meaning in life, according to Jeremiah 9:23-24?

Context: Weaver uses this passage to counter the despair of a suicide note.

Applications

Embrace unexpected crosses as divine appointments

Summary: Believers should recognize that unexpected trials are part of God's sovereign plan and respond with faith, not bitterness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'In God's sovereign providence, things happen that you and I have never planned for... There are unexpected crosses that we have to bear.'

Take up your cross daily by denying self

Summary: Christians are called to daily self-denial and following Christ, motivated by love for Him.

Evidence: Weaver cites Luke 9:23 and states, 'We have to deny our flesh, our lusts, and everything that's contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Find life's meaning only in knowing God

Summary: True fulfillment and purpose come from a relationship with God, not from worldly wisdom, might, or riches.

Evidence: Weaver references Jeremiah 9:23-24 and comments, 'Our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God.'

Serve Christ willingly, not under compulsion

Summary: Unlike Simon who was compelled, believers should voluntarily bear their crosses for Christ's honor.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to bear our crosses without being compelled. And we need to do it for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:32:13Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T21:38:46Z

Clean Transcript

Simon the Cyrenian

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Mark 15. Mark 15, verse 21. One verse. Mark 15, verse 21. The title of the message is, "Simon the Cyrenian." Simon the Cyrenian. Look, if you would, please, at Mark 15 and verse 21. The Scripture says, "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." There are many Simons in the Bible, and we are certainly familiar with a few of them. The first one that would come to anyone's mind would be Simon Peter. And secondly, probably Simon the sorcerer, who is found in Acts chapter 8. And then there was also Simon the Tanner that you read about in Acts chapter 10. Now there's another Simon that few remember. He was the father of Judas Iscariot. For instance, in John 6 and verse 71, the Bible says, "He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve." And then you get to John 13, verse 2, "And supper being ended, the devil having now put in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him."
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And then thirdly, in John 13, verse 6, "Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." So when you hear "Simon's son" or "the son of Simon," you probably should think of Judas Iscariot. It's amazing that his father's name is given to us over and over in the Scripture, and we very seldom connect the name Simon with Judas Iscariot. It's intriguing in one sense of the word to think that it was Simon's son who betrayed the Lord Jesus, which led to his crucifixion, and it was yet another Simon who helped our Lord carry His cross to the place of crucifixion. Now, initially, our Lord bore that cross Himself. For instance, if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19, John chapter 19, and look at verses 16 and 17.
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It was the design of the Romans to make the victim always carry the instrument of his death. So in John chapter 19, beginning there with verse 16, the Word of God says this, "Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified, and they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth unto a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha." So our Lord then would have been forced to carry the cross Himself all the way to Golgotha, had He been able to do so.
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So we have to ask this question. Why was He not able to carry the cross all the way to Golgotha Himself? Or we could ask the question another way. Why would He need help? You must remember that our Lord was raised in a carpenter's shop. And of course, you don't get weak doing carpentry work. He had a very strong body, that is for sure. But why would He need help?
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Well, let me just point several things out. And in doing so, I want you to turn to Matthew 27, because first of all, you'd have to understand that our Lord's trial initially was at night, which was unlawful, but yet He was up all night with a trial by the chief priests and the scribes. Notice, if you would, Matthew 27, verse 1, "When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death."
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And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. So all night long they had drilled our Lord and kept Him up all night long. And then when the morning was come, that's when they agreed that He was to be put to death. Of course, obviously, they had already predetermined that as well. But then our Lord went for a lengthy trial before Pilate.
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You can read about that yourself in verses 11 through 25. In fact, just verse 11, "...And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest." Or literally, the way you and I would say it, "As you said it, buddy. You got that right, Jack." In other words, that's basically what He said.
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Yes, I am the Son of God. I am the King. And that's exactly what you said, and that is certainly the truth. Well, after the people chose Barabbas to be released, Pilate did something else. So if you'll skip down to Matthew 27 in verse 26, the Bible says this, "Then released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified."
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Now watch, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and they took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him."
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And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear the cross." So the Bible tells us once he released Barabbas unto them, the next thing that Pilate did was he had Jesus Christ scourged.
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Now, scourging was initially just simply by a rod. But to make the blows more severe and more painful, lashes were added to the rod. And not only were lashes added to the rod, usually they would take pieces of iron or lead or rock or some sharp little something and tied to the end of the lash. Thus when the rod hit and the lash is wrapped around the ribcage and they pull them back, then of course the
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flesh would be torn off and if you were beaten hard enough down to the muscle the muscle will be exposed as well. So it's interesting that these rods with the lashes and with the pieces of iron and lead in the end of them were called scorpions because they stung much like a scorpion. Now, if you've never been stung by a scorpion, you don't really understand that. But I remember when I was a little boy, I went down to the cow pen, and I don't remember if I was milking the cow or if Mother was milking the cow, but I was down there, and I saw this funny-looking little bug carrying his tail on his back, and I thought, well,
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let me check that one out. And I picked him up in my hand. I put him down very quickly, I can assure you, because he stung. But may I remind you, this is exactly what these things are called in 1 Kings 12 and verse 11. You remember how the people came to Rehoboam and said, "Look, if you'll make our burdens easier and lighter, we will serve you." And so Rehoboam then consulted with the old men. The old men said, "Look, if you'll serve the people, they'll be your servants." But then the young men said, "No, no, no. You've got to be hard-nosed with these people."
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You show them who is boss. And so in 1 Kings 12, verse 11, Rehoboam said to the people, "Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." In other words, this lash with all of these pieces of metal in it, referred to as a scorpion.
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Now, according to biblical law, you can only give a man 40 stripes. So the Jews then, in order to be accurate, would take a rod and they would add three lashes to it. So that meant once you hit a man thirteen times, there would be thirty-nine stripes. And so lest they go over, they would stop at that particular time. The Apostle Paul himself was scourged five times in this manner according to 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 24.
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But you have to remember this. It was the Roman soldiers who scourged Jesus. And the Roman soldiers did not feel themselves bound by God's law. And so consequently, they just simply scourged according to their pleasure, according to their leisure, until they got tired of it. So once the hide and the flesh and the skin had been peeled back, our Lord could indeed have been a bloody mess with His muscles showing. Moreover, I want you to look, on top of the scourging, the Bible says this, look if you would please, in verse 27, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered in the whole band of soldiers, and they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe, and
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when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him upon the head."
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Now, the Greek word here signifies a bramble bush, thorns from the bramble bush. That crown was woven with very sharp pointed thorns, sharp enough to pierce not only his skin, but his brow as well. In all probability, these soldiers were not delicate. They probably pressed that crown of thorns down as hard as they could and as deeply as they could into his brow.
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Now, I don't know if you've ever been cut above the eye or over the forehead, but one thing is for sure, once you get a cut there, you will bleed profusely. In fact, the blood will cover your eyes and you'll find out exactly what is going on. But notice, if you would, what they said in verse 30. "And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head." So they gave him a reed. And now, if you look back in your Bibles, if you would, please, the Bible says, in verse 27, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers." So that means if each man took a time with the reed hitting him over the head, they were deliberately forcing those thorns deeper and deeper into his brow.
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Everything they did was to mock Him, to denigrate Him, and simply to ridicule Him. One author said this, and I liked it so well, I thought it would go well right here, since obviously they did not believe in Jesus Christ, and they did everything they could to mock Him. But the author said this, "Let the world do what it will to render the royalty and mysteries of Jesus Christ contemptible.
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It is my glory to serve a king thus debased, my salvation to adore that which the world despises, and my redemption to go unto God through the merits of him who was crowned with thorns." And that's certainly, certainly true. But it was after this mocking, after this scourging, after being beaten with the reed over the head with the crown of thorns on his brow, that Jesus now is delivered to be crucified.
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The crucifixion always took place without the gate of Jerusalem. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 12 and 13, "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." So now Jesus Christ is being forced to carry his cross. Undoubtedly our Lord had to be in great physical shape to endure such a beating and such a scourging and still be able initially to carry the cross. He was not able to carry it all the way. So either Simon then was compelled to carry it for him, or at least to help him carry it by at least picking up the back part of it.
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Now today, I want to just share with you two thoughts. And I want you to look back at Mark chapter 15 and verse 21, because these two thoughts, I believe, fit very well into this one passage. In verse 21, "And they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear the cross." So the very first thing I'm going to give you is an unexpected hour. An unexpected hour. When Simon woke up that morning, he had no idea that he would be carrying the cross of Jesus Christ. It was unexpected. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. And I'll explain that statement just a little bit later. But notice, if you would, in verse 21, "And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country."
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Now, the word "country" is translated from the Greek word agros, agros. I hope that sounds familiar, like agriculture. Of course. The word agros is translated in our Bibles as "field" 22 times. It is translated "land" 4 times. It is translated "farm" 1 time, and "piece of ground" 1 time. It is also translated as "country" 8 times.
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So obviously, Simon was already in the country of Judea. He was just out in a field. He was out on a farm. He could have been out in a village somewhere. So he was on his way back from that farm. Maybe he was carrying some wood or bringing some crops in, I don't know. He could have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. At any rate, he was a man of Cyrene. Now, just the very fact that he was a man of Cyrene does not indicate that he was a pagan. In fact, I'm going to show you that he probably indeed was not a pagan. He was an Israelite and probably a real believer. Cyrene was in Libya. It was Ptolemy Lagus who had founded a Jewish colony in Cyrene in Libya. Libya is on the north coast of Africa.
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You have to remember that Cyrenians are mentioned several times in the Bible. For instance, if you will turn your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 2, you're going to read about the day of Pentecost. And believe it or not, there were men of Cyprus and Cyrene at the day of Pentecost. So look, if you would, in Acts chapter 2, beginning there with verse 5. Acts 2, verse 5, and we'll read down through verse 11. Acts 2, verse 5, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven."
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Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they all were amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, and Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." So note, if you would please, Libya and Cyrene are particularly mentioned.
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And it may also surprise you that the Cyrenians had a synagogue in Jerusalem. If you will notice in Acts chapter 6 and verse 9, Acts 6 and verse 9, the Bible says, "Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and with them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen." So here were men of the synagogue of the Cyrenians.
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You remember, of course, there was persecution in the early church. Saul was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against all of these disciples. And, of course, they were scattered abroad. And if you look at Acts chapter 11, verses 19 and 20, we'll see what happened. Acts 11, verse 19, "Now they which were scattered abroad about the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus." So there were men of Cyrene who happened to be preaching the Lord Jesus. There were also Cyrenians in the church. So if you look in Acts chapter 13 and verse 1, Acts 13 verse 1, "Now there was in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod, the Tetrarch, and Saul."
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So there's Lucius of Cyrene. When the Bible tells us in Mark chapter 15 and verse 21 that they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, that does not indicate at all that he was a pagan. In all probability, he was not only an Israelite, I'm going to show you I believe that he was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and to celebrate. And, of course, he may have bought a farm outside of Jerusalem. Who knows? The Bible does not tell us. The Bible just tells us he was coming from a farm or from a field.
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Whatever he was doing, he was in the right place at the right time. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, "Wow, I think I'm going to carry the cross for Jesus Christ today." It just did not come into his mind. But when he saw what was happening, the Romans may have chosen him at random. I don't know. The Bible does not say. He could have in some way indicated or shown sympathy toward Jesus Christ. And therefore, they would say, "Well, since you're showing sympathy, you'd be the one that'll help carry the cross." He may have been counted as a stranger unto them, but he was certainly not a stranger unto the truth. Now, the Bible says, "him they compelled," that is, they impressed, to carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The Romans did not compel him to carry the cross of Jesus Christ out of pity or sympathy. They did not say, "Look at Jesus. He's so weak.
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We beat Him so horribly. Let's have pity upon Him and have some..." No, no, no. There was no pity. There was no sympathy. They wanted Him to be crucified, and they were afraid that He might die before He got to the place of crucifixion, and so they wanted to make sure that He suffered all the indignity of crucifixion. They wanted Him to suffer the disgraceful punishment that was reserved for slaves and criminals.
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Now Plutarch, who is a Greek essayist and biographer, said this, "Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment. Just as every malefactor, when he is brought forth to execution, carries his own cross." So it was standard procedure then for the man who was going to be crucified to carry his own cross. But since Jesus Christ had been beaten so by the Roman soldiers, they compel Simon and he then helps carry the cross. You have to remember that the Roman soldiers had the authority to compel or impress anyone to carry their baggage or to carry their weapons for up to one mile. You remember what our Lord said in Matthew 5 in verse 41, "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." You have to stop and think, this would have been highly honorous to a man who happened to be on his way somewhere, and he sees a Roman soldier, and the Roman soldier says, "Hey, you have to come carry my baggage and my equipment," and takes you a mile in a different direction.
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Well, our Lord says, you're not going to get angry. You're not going to get bitter. If you're compelled to go a mile, just go with him twain, just to make sure that there's no bitterness and there's no anger. The interesting thing is Simon was probably not a man of means. If he had been a man of money, he probably would not have been out in the field doing work. Or if he was not out in the field doing work, he would not have been staying in a village outside of Jerusalem. He would have had the money to have stayed in Jerusalem.
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Undoubtedly, he was a peasant. He was a stranger to the Roman soldiers. The carrying of a cross was counted as absolutely detestable. Moreover, anyone who touched it would be counted as polluted. Whatever his circumstances, whether he was coming from work or whether he lived there, whether he was coming from a village, he was in the right place at the right time, and his calling at this unexpected hour was right in line with the principles of Scripture. Let me show you.
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I want you to turn in your Bibles, holding Mark 15, but look in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Once you find 1 Corinthians chapter 1, I want to make a statement. I want you to think about this. They find one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, coming out of the fields. Him they compel to carry the cross. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Please remember this. They did not compel a king. It was not a king.
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It was not a prince. He was not an ambassador. He was not a diplomat. He was no person of position or high honor. He was a peasant, a lowly individual. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1, note if you would please, let's begin there with verse 26. He says, "You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen ye, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence."
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But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made in us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord." Note, if you would please, he says, "You see your calling, brethren, not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble." It was not the nobility that were called upon to carry the cross of Christ. It was a simple individual who believed. So here's an unexpected hour where Simon comes from his fields and he's called upon to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ. The second thing I want you to see is an unanticipated honor. If you'll go back to verse 21 of Mark 15, not only an unexpected hour, but an unanticipated honor. Verse 21, the Bible says, "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."
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Now, there's a principle in Scripture that is repeated over and over throughout the Bible. In 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 30, God says this, "For them that honor me will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed, saith the Lord." So those that honor God, God is going to honor. Simon was honored by God in that he was allowed to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ.
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Now let me ask you a question. Don't answer it out loud, and I will ask this question a little bit later. But here's the question. Had you been alive at that particular time, and had you been in the place of Simon, would you have been willing and ready to carry the cross of Jesus Christ? As a believer, each one of us would answer, yes. We would be willing to do that. Well, I said earlier, it was probably that Simon showed some sympathy toward Jesus Christ that made the Roman soldiers choose him. I not only believe that Simon was a true Israelite, I also believe that Simon was a true Christian, that he also trusted in Christ as Messiah and believed indeed in his salvation.
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Now what makes me think that? How can I say that? There's no scripture that says that Simon was saved. I understand that. But, if you look in verse 21 again, the Bible says, "...they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country." And then this is added, "...the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear the cross." So what makes me think that Simon was a believer? The answer is because he was the father of Alexander and Rufus. Alexander and Rufus were men of note and men of faith among the early disciples. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 19 and verse 31, Acts 19 and verse 31, and I don't have time to go over the entire context there, but there is a row, there is a riot almost in Acts chapter 19, because Paul and some of the other followers of Paul were here in Ephesus, and my goodness, these people were worshipers of Diana of the Ephesians. And the silversmiths had it in for Paul because when people got converted, they quit buying their wares.
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So there's a big row going on, and notice if you would please, the Bible says in Acts 19 verse 33, well, let's read verse 32. "Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they, that is the Jews, they drew Alexander out of the multitude." In other words, they picked him, the Jews putting him forward. "And Alexander beckoned with his hand and would have made his defense unto them, unto the people, but when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians." So the Jews put Alexander forward, not because that he was someone who was about to make a defense for the Jewish nation, but because he was a Christian, and they hated him as much as they hated the other idolaters, and they wanted Alexander put to death. In fact, John Gill, the great Baptist expositor, says it like this, "The Jews putting him forward being equally enemies to him as being under a profession of Christianity."
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So since Alexander was a Christian, they wanted him put forward so that he would be mobbed and murdered. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 16, Romans 16, and notice if you would look, the Apostle Paul says in verse 13, Romans 16, and notice if you would please verse 13. Now the Apostle Paul says this, "Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine." Now, Rufus would have been literally the son of his mother. And Paul is saying that she is figuratively my mother as well.
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Now, let me ask you a question. Let's see.
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Now, if Alexander and Rufus are both prominent Christians, and the mother of Rufus is a prominent Christian, whom even Paul has taken to calling her mother, and she's partially adopted him probably as her third son, do you not think that Simon, the father, would also be a Christian and a believer? And the truth of the matter is, the Scripture demonstrates that these individuals were choice Christians, eminent in grace and gifts. Rufus is honorably mentioned by Polycarp. Now, Polycarp was one of the disciples of John the Apostle. In one of his epistles, Polycarp mentions Rufus. Also, Rufus supposedly became the Bishop of Spain, and Alexander suffered martyrdom. Now, if the sons of Simon, Alexander, and Rufus are the same mentioned by Luke and Paul, these men were men of note among the Christians. And undoubtedly, Simon would have been a believer as well, since Paul called his wife, figuratively speaking, his mother as well.
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Now, I want you to go back to Mark 15, verse 21. Let me show you something interesting. At least it was interesting to me, intriguing. Look in Mark 15, in verse 21. Before I get to the applications, I've got to point out this concept. Before I point it out, let me just say it like this. Names usually do not mean anything to us today. When I say that, all our names are just handles by which we are identified. Steve, David, John. They may be biblical names.
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But most people have no earthly idea what their name means. We know what a few names in the Bible mean because we read, like Samuel, "Ask of the Lord." But in Bible times, usually names were given based upon an individual's character or because of some truth. And a lot of times the names were related to God. Elijah. Stop and think about what the word Elijah means. You remember our Lord cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" Somebody says he's calling for Elijah.
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But what was he saying? "My God, my God." If Eli refers to God, Yah, Yahweh, my God is Yahweh, my God is Jehovah. You see what I'm saying? Names meant something in Bible times. And so, when you look at verse 21, the Bible says, "...they compelled one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross." The word Simon, the name Simon, literally means hearer, hearkener, obedient. Alexander means man defender. Rufus means red. It was Jesus Christ who heard, who hearkened and obeyed to the Father, who defended His own and gave His blood for our redemption. That is why in John 10 and verse 11, Jesus Christ said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep." In John 10 verses 14 and 15, He said, "I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine, as the Father knoweth Me, even so I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep."
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So, in these three names, Simon, Alexander, and Rufus, we see the work of Jesus Christ set forth. In the fact that Jesus Christ is the one that heard, hearkened, and obeyed the Father, He defended His own, carried His cross, shed His blood, and saved His own. So let me put it to you plainly. It was not luck, chance, fate, or fortune that Simon happened to be in the right place at the right time.
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It was God's sovereign providence. So Simon and his sons, through their names, exemplified the saving work of Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, God has another lesson for you and I to learn, and that is this. Our lives have meaning and honor only as we serve Him. Stop and think. How hated and detestable was the cross. How polluted, ceremonially speaking, one became just by touching that instrument. And yet it was an honor.
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And here is a man whose name rings out through the ages because he carried the cross of Jesus Christ. I just read this week, and some of you probably read as well, and if I remember correctly, I think the young man was 21. He murdered a couple of other people. And then he murdered himself. And he left a note, and he said this, and I'm quoting, "Life sucks.
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I want out of it as quickly as I can get out of it." Twenty-one years of age! You wonder why our country is running crazy? Why suicide is on the rampage? We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God. And if there is no relationship to Him, most people think life is not worth living anyhow. Let me show you one other passage before I make the applications. I want you to look in Jeremiah chapter 9. Jeremiah chapter 9, and notice if you would please at verses 23 and 24. Jeremiah 9, verse 23, 24.
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Look what the Bible says. "Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, saith the Lord." So God says, if you're wise, don't rejoice in your wisdom. If you're mighty, don't rejoice in your strength. If you're rich, don't rejoice in your money. If you're going to glory, glory in this: that we understand and know the Lord. And we understand and know that He's lovingly kind, He has righteous judgment, and He has righteousness in Himself. That's what He says we're delighted in.
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And without that, life is meaningless. That's why so many are taking their own lives.
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Now, let me make a couple of applications. The first one is this. I asked earlier, if you had been alive and you were on the scene and you were impressed, you were compelled to carry the cross of Jesus Christ, would you have done so? And the answer for a believer is yes. Well, let me just put it like this. That part of history is over and done with. We really need not concern ourselves about that question in one sense of the word, because it will never be repeated again. Jesus Christ, the Bible says, died once and for all.
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He's not going to die again. No one will have to carry that cross again. Simon was called at that unexpected hour and given that unanticipated honor. He was the one that carried that cross. So the question is, not would we be willing to have carried the cross back then, but are we willing now to carry whatever crosses He places upon us? Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to two passages.
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First of all, Matthew 16. Then we're going to Luke 9, okay? Look in Matthew 16, and we'll begin reading there verse 24, and then we'll go to Luke 9. So look at Matthew 16 and verse 24. These two passages are essentially the same, and yet one adds something that we need to really meditate on. Matthew 16, verse 24, "...then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Wow. You have to willingly take up your cross by denying yourself and follow Christ.
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For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? So our Lord says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." So, there's a cross that we have.
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Look in your Bibles, Luke chapter 9, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Luke 9 and verse 23. There's an additional word. I want you to see it. Luke 9, verse 23. "And He said unto them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross," what's that next word? "Daily." "...and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall find it, or save it. For what is a man's advantage if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" So there's a sense that we have a daily cross in that. We have to deny our flesh, our lusts, and everything that's contrary to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.
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You remember what the Apostle Paul said, "I die"? How often did he die? Daily, daily, daily. So we have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be. And it should be the love of Christ that constrains us to carry that cross. Let me point something else out. May I remind you that the very first point that I made was an unexpected hour. Simon did not wake up that morning and say, "I think I'm going to carry the cross of Jesus Christ today." No. Something happened over which Simon had absolutely no control and over which he did not plan for.
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So in God's sovereign providence, things happen that you and I have never planned for. We never hardly think about. I preached for 53 years. I never kept a record of how many people I married, and how many people I buried. I never kept the record of how many people that I watched die. I've seen people die quickly. I've seen people suffer a great length of time. And here's an astounding thing. I have been with people who were very, very sick, on the edge of death innumerable times, and yet, when that person finally did die, the family would say, "Well, we knew it was going to happen, but we didn't expect it so soon." Stop and think about that. We die.
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Sometimes it will be unexpected. It may be your husband. It may be your wife. It may be your child. It may be you. But it's something that we didn't wake up that morning and say, "I think I'll die today." Let me show you. I want you to look in your Bible, John 21, John 21. Here's a good illustration of what I'm talking about. It's what our Lord told Peter, John 21. You remember three times Peter denied Christ and three times Christ asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Well, after Peter said, "Yes, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You." Look in verse 18. Here's what our Lord told Peter, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest."
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That is, you did pretty much what you wanted to do. "But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thine hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me." In other words, Peter was crucified as well. So he said, when you were young, you girded yourself and did what you wanted to do. When you got old, and when it came your time to die, this is how you're going to die. Well, I'm sure Peter did not expect to be crucified, and yet, he was. All I'm trying to say is this, there are unexpected crosses that we have to bear and we have to face. And we have to make sure that we face those crosses and bear those crosses so that we may honor Jesus Christ, whatever that cross may be.
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We must learn to not only rejoice in Him, but to suffer with Him. That's why He said, "Let us go forth unto Him without the gate bearing His reproach." Our Lord said it like this in John 12 in verse 26, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. And where I am, there will my servant also be." So we're to be with Jesus Christ in rejoicing and in glory and in humility and in reproach. Wherever He is, that's where we're to be.
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And they found one Simon the Cyrenian coming out of the country. And they compelled him to bear the cross of Jesus Christ. We need to bear our crosses without being compelled. And we need to do it for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, help us in the name of Jesus Christ to learn from Simon an unexpected hour and an unanticipated honor. Help us, Lord, not only to be willing to rejoice with Thee and be with Thee in glory, but to suffer with Thee and be with Thee in reproach. Enable us, Lord, to always do those things which will please Thee and glorify Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:32:13Z

Simon the Cyrenian

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines Mark 15:21, focusing on Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry Jesus' cross. He explores the unexpected hour of Simon's calling and the unanticipated honor of serving Christ in His suffering. Weaver argues that Simon was likely a Jewish believer, evidenced by his sons Alexander and Rufus being prominent Christians. The sermon emphasizes that believers are called to take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials with faith, and finding meaning and honor only in serving God.

Introduction: The Many Simons of Scripture

Weaver introduces Simon the Cyrenian by contrasting him with other biblical Simons, including Simon Peter, Simon the sorcerer, and Simon the father of Judas Iscariot.

Scripture Reading — Mark 15:21

"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."

And then thirdly, in John 13, verse 6,

Scripture Reading — John 6:71

"Jesus answered, He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon."

It was the design of the Romans to make the victim always carry the instrument of his death. So in John chapter 19, beginning there with verse 16, the Word of God says this,

Scripture Reading — John 19:16-17

"Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified, and they took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth unto a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha."

So our Lord then would have been forced to carry the cross Himself all the way to Golgotha, had He been able to do so.

Why Jesus Needed Help Carrying the Cross

Weaver explains that Jesus was physically weakened by an all-night trial, scourging, and mocking by Roman soldiers, making Him unable to carry the cross the entire way.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 27:1-2

"When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death."

You show them who is boss. And so in 1 Kings 12, verse 11, Rehoboam said to the people,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 12:11

"Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

The crucifixion always took place without the gate of Jerusalem. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 12 and 13,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:12-13

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

An Unexpected Hour

Simon did not plan to carry the cross; he was unexpectedly compelled by Roman soldiers while coming from the country. Weaver suggests Simon was a Jewish believer, not a pagan.

Scripture Reading — Acts 2:5-11

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they all were amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born, Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, and Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, and Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, Jews, proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

Scripture Reading — Acts 11:19-20

"Now they which were scattered abroad about the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

"You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen ye, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence."

An Unanticipated Honor

Carrying the cross was detestable, yet it became an honor for Simon. Weaver argues Simon was a believer based on his sons Alexander and Rufus being noted Christians.

Now, there's a principle in Scripture that is repeated over and over throughout the Bible. In 1 Samuel chapter 2 and verse 30, God says this,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 2:30

"For them that honor me will I honor. And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed, saith the Lord."

So those that honor God, God is going to honor. Simon was honored by God in that he was allowed to help carry the cross of Jesus Christ.

So there's a big row going on, and notice if you would please, the Bible says in Acts 19 verse 33, well, let's read verse 32.

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they, that is the Jews, they drew Alexander out of the multitude."

In other words, they picked him, the Jews putting him forward.

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"And Alexander beckoned with his hand and would have made his defense unto them, unto the people, but when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

Scripture Reading — Acts 19:32-34

"The Jews putting him forward being equally enemies to him as being under a profession of Christianity."

Scripture Reading — Romans 16:13

"Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, and mine."

Now, Rufus would have been literally the son of his mother. And Paul is saying that she is figuratively my mother as well.

The Significance of the Names

Weaver highlights the meanings of Simon (hearer), Alexander (man defender), and Rufus (red) as reflecting Christ's work of obedience, defense, and redemption.

Application: Taking Up Our Cross Daily

Believers are called to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials with faith and finding meaning only in knowing and serving God.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:24-26

"...then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Wow. You have to willingly take up your cross by denying yourself and follow Christ.

Simon the Cyrenian

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1224171912460
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations: Praying Against the Wicked
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-12-24
Dictation Name
Book	Book 136: Romans: Sin, Judgment, and Gospel Foundations - Volume 1 — Chapter 18
Source Timed Segments	65

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Many Simons of Scripture: Weaver introduces Simon the Cyrenian by contrasting him with other biblical Simons, including Simon Peter, Simon the sorcerer, and Simon the father of Judas Iscariot.
Why Jesus Needed Help Carrying the Cross: Weaver explains that Jesus was physically weakened by an all-night trial, scourging, and mocking by Roman soldiers, making Him unable to carry the cross the entire way.
An Unexpected Hour: Simon did not plan to carry the cross; he was unexpectedly compelled by Roman soldiers while coming from the country. Weaver suggests Simon was a Jewish believer, not a pagan.
An Unanticipated Honor: Carrying the cross was detestable, yet it became an honor for Simon. Weaver argues Simon was a believer based on his sons Alexander and Rufus being noted Christians.
The Significance of the Names: Weaver highlights the meanings of Simon (hearer), Alexander (man defender), and Rufus (red) as reflecting Christ's work of obedience, defense, and redemption.
Application: Taking Up Our Cross Daily: Believers are called to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, facing unexpected trials with faith and finding meaning only in knowing and serving God.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Simon was likely a Jewish believer, not a pagan

Weaver argues that Simon's Cyrenian origin does not imply paganism; Cyrene had a Jewish colony, and his sons Alexander and Rufus were prominent Christians, suggesting Simon was also a believer.

Weaver says, 'In all probability, he was not only an Israelite, I'm going to show you I believe that he was also a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.' He then cites Acts 19:33 and Romans 16:13 regarding Alexander and Rufus.

Jesus' physical suffering necessitated help

Jesus was weakened by an illegal night trial, Roman scourging beyond Jewish limits, and mocking that drove thorns into His brow, making Him unable to carry the cross alone.

Weaver details the scourging with scorpions and the crown of thorns, stating, 'They were deliberately forcing those thorns deeper and deeper into his brow.'

God chooses the lowly to confound the wise

Simon was a peasant, not a person of status, aligning with 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that God uses the weak and base things to glorify Himself.

Weaver reads 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 and states, 'It was not the nobility that were called upon to carry the cross of Christ. It was a simple individual who believed.'

The names Simon, Alexander, and Rufus typify Christ's work

The meanings of the names—hearer, man defender, red—point to Jesus' obedience, defense of His people, and blood redemption.

Weaver explains, 'In these three names, Simon, Alexander, and Rufus, we see the work of Jesus Christ set forth.'

Scripture References

Mark 15:21: The central text: Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus' cross.
John 6:71: Mentioned to show Simon as the father of Judas Iscariot.
John 13:2, 26: Further references to Judas as Simon's son.
John 19:16-17: Jesus initially bore His own cross.
Matthew 27:1-2: Jesus' trial at night and delivery to Pilate.
Matthew 27:26-31: Scourging, mocking, and leading away to crucify.
1 Kings 12:11: Rehoboam's threat to chastise with scorpions, illustrating the scourge.
2 Corinthians 11:24: Paul received thirty-nine stripes five times.
Hebrews 13:12-13: Jesus suffered outside the gate; believers are to bear His reproach.
Acts 2:5-11: Cyrenians present at Pentecost, showing Jewish presence in Cyrene.
Acts 6:9: Synagogue of the Cyrenians in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:19-20: Men of Cyprus and Cyrene preaching the Lord Jesus.
Acts 13:1: Lucius of Cyrene listed among prophets and teachers in Antioch.
Matthew 5:41: Compelled to go a mile; Roman authority to impress service.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29: God chooses the foolish, weak, and base things to confound the wise.
1 Samuel 2:30: Those who honor God will be honored.
Acts 19:32-34: Alexander put forward by Jews in Ephesus, likely a Christian.
Romans 16:13: Rufus chosen in the Lord; Paul greets him and his mother.
Jeremiah 9:23-24: Glory only in knowing and understanding the Lord.
Matthew 16:24-26: Take up your cross and follow Christ.

Historical References

Plutarch: Greek essayist and biographer quoted: 'Every kind of wickedness produces its own particular torment, just as every malefactor... carries his own cross.'
John Gill: Baptist expositor cited regarding Alexander being put forward by Jews because he was a Christian.
Polycarp: Disciple of John the Apostle; mentioned Rufus honorably in an epistle.
Ptolemy Lagus: Founded a Jewish colony in Cyrene, Libya.

Important Quotes

How hated and detestable was the cross. How polluted, ceremonially speaking, one became just by touching that instrument. And yet it was an honor.

Contrasts the world's view of the cross with the honor of serving Christ, a key application point.

We need to understand that our lives can only have meaning in relationship to God.

Central application: life's meaning is found only in knowing God, countering despair.

We have to carry our cross no matter how heavy it seems or how disagreeable to the flesh it may be. And it should be the love of Christ that constrains us to carry that cross.

Practical application of daily cross-bearing motivated by love for Christ.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding Simon's likely identity as a Jewish believer change our view of his role in the crucifixion?

[Context]

Weaver argues Simon was not a pagan but a believer, based on his sons' prominence.

[Question]

In what ways do unexpected trials serve as 'crosses' in our lives, and how can we respond in faith?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that crosses often come unexpectedly, like Simon's calling.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'take up your cross daily' in practical terms, and how does this relate to denying oneself?

[Context]

Weaver cites Luke 9:23 and discusses daily dying to self.

[Question]

How can we find honor and meaning in serving Christ when the world despises such service?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the world's contempt for the cross with the honor of carrying it.

[Question]

Why is knowing God the only true source of meaning in life, according to Jeremiah 9:23-24?

[Context]

Weaver uses this passage to counter the despair of a suicide note.

Applications

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