“The Characters of Lent:
Simon of Cyrene & Virgin Mary”

Mark 15:20-21 & John 19:25-27

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Lent Service IV—March 11, 2015

The Roman poet Cicero described crucifixion as “the cruelest and most hideous punishment.”  Crucifixion was used especially in the outlying, conquered lands of the Roman Empire, like Palestine, because in those places there often were only a handful of Roman soldiers to keep control over the rebellious natives.  The Romans crucified criminals and rebels as an example and a deterrent.

As part of this deterrent effect, those sentenced to be crucified were forced to carry their own crosses through the city streets out to the place of execution, which was called Golgotha in Aramaic and Calvary in Latin, both of which mean “The Place of the Skull.”  At the front of the procession would be the Roman centurion in charge of the crucifixion detail.  Behind him would be another soldier bearing a plaque on which was written the criminal charge, the reason why the condemned man was being crucified, as a warning to all not commit this same crime.  The victim would follow, carrying his own cross, which could weigh several hundred pounds.  The other soldiers in the crucifixion detail would follow behind the prisoner, to prevent him from escaping and whipping him if he slowed or stopped. 

A long, winding route would be taken through the city, so that as many people as possible would witness the spectacle.  Today, the route that tradition says Christ took carrying his cross is called the “Via Dolorosa,” which is Latin for “The Way of Sorrows.”  Every Friday, thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world walk the Via Dolorosa, commemorating Christ’s journey out to Calvary.  And on Good Friday, tens of thousands of pilgrims form a huge procession along The Way of Sorrows.  One of the most memorable experiences of my life was walking the Via Dolorosa on Good Friday in 1980, and that day I bought this stole that I use during Lent in a little shop on the Via Dolorosa.

On the first Good Friday morning three groups paraded out three men through the streets of Jerusalem.  Two of the men were common criminals, thieves and robbers.  But, the notice carried before one man bore a very strange inscription for a crucifixion victim: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Although Pontius Pilate knew it was not true, that was the technical, legal reason why Jesus was crucified, supposedly because he claimed to be a king in opposition to Caesar, which was a treasonable offensive under Roman law, punishable by death.

On the way to Golgotha, Jesus was so weakened by all the punishments he had already endured that he simply could no longer carry his cross no matter how much the soldiers whipped him.  So, the soldiers grabbed at random from the crowd Simon of Cyrene and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.  Roman soldiers had the authority to temporarily impress non-Romans into their service.  A Roman solider could require any non-Roman to carry his pack or other burden for one mile.  That’s what Jesus was talking about when he said in the Sermon on the Mount, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

We don’t know much about Simon of Cyrene.  Cyrene was a city in northern Africa, modern-day Libya. Simon was probably a Hebrew, in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.  Mark adds that he was the “father of Alexander and Rufus.” This probably means that after this memorable encounter with Jesus, Simon became a Christian, and at the time Mark wrote his Gospel, Alexander and Rufus were well-known in the Christian community as the sons of the man who famously carried to Calvary the cross of the suffering Savior.

It seems Simon just happened to be walking into town that day.  He didn’t expect to be carrying a condemned man’s cross.  Some people would say he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as he was pressed into service by the Roman soldiers escorting Jesus. 

But, the condemned man whose cross he was carrying was the Messiah, on his way to suffer and die for the sins of the world.  Tradition says that this event had such an impact on Simon that he did become not only a believer in Christ but a leader in the early Church, and his sons Alexander and Rufus became missionaries in Africa.  So, this “passerby” moment had an extraordinary impact on the lives of Simon’s whole family.  God really put Simon of Cyrene in the right place at the right time.

Paul says in Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Like Simon, we often have unexpected “passerby” moments in our lives, when we come into contact with people who have burdens they need our help to bear.  God is putting you in the right place at the right time.  As Paul says a few verses later in Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”  But, he also says to us, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.”  Just as Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Christ, Christ now works through you, to the weary and heavy-laden whom you encounter in your life bear their burdens.

Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  Simon of Cyrene literally took up the cross for Jesus.  Like Simon of Cyrene, take up the cross.  Take up the cross, by trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your salvation.  Take up the cross, by patiently enduring for Jesus’ sake all the crosses of this life.  And take up the cross, by the weary and heavy-laden whom you encounter in your life bear their burdens.

Just as Simon of Cyrene was there to help Jesus bear his cross, Jesus is with you, daily, to help you bear your cross for him.

There are so many ironic coincidences between events at the beginning and ending of Jesus’ life.  It was Herod the Great who tried to kill the baby Jesus, and his son, Herod Antipas, who questioned the prisoner Jesus.  The Wise Men had asked, “Where is he that has been born king of the Jews?” and the sign posted above Jesus on the cross read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  The Wise Men presented the child Jesus with myrrh, and when he was crucified, Jesus was offered, but rejected, wine mixed with myrrh to dull the pain, and with myrrh his body was prepared for burial.

Did Mary think of these things and ponder them in her heart as she watched her son, Jesus, being crucified?  Did she remember the words Simeon had spoken in the temple when Jesus was just a few weeks old, proclaiming him to be the promised Messiah and then ominously telling Mary: “And a sword will pierce your own soul also”?  The sword Simeon prophesied was the pain and anguish Mary endured as she watched her son die on the cross.

The crowd around the cross was insulting and taunting Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, save yourself!  Come down now from the cross and we will believe in you!”  In this angry mob Jesus sees two friendly, familiar faces: his dear mother, Mary, and his closest friend, the apostle John.  It seems Mary is a widow, and, as her oldest son, it is Jesus’ responsibility to take care of her.  Even in the midst of all his horrible pain and agony on the cross, Jesus shows his love for his mother by commending her to the care of John, as John reports in his own Gospel: “[Jesus] said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is you son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”

Paul says in Ephesians, “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God.”  On the cross Jesus showed his deep love for his mother by committing her to the care of John.  And on the cross Jesus also showed his deep love for you, by giving himself up for to pay for all your sins.