Simon Of Cyrene, Cross Bearer - The Chosen one.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" (Matthew 16:24)


1. (Matthew 27:31-32) - "And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. 32And as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross."
2. (Mark 15:20-21) - "And after they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, and put His garments on Him. And they *led Him out to crucify Him. 21And they pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross."
   
3. (Luke 23:26) - "And when they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus."

This incident of Simon carrying Jesus’ cross to Golgotha is described with only one verse each in all three Gospels that mention it (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). It is briefly and almost incidentally related, but how full of pathos and essence it is!

Simon carrying this cross reminds us anew that Jesus gives His glory to
whomever or whatever He touches.

Jesus took this crudely cut cross, an instrument of shame and death, and turned it into a cross of glory, the means of our salvation. Simon was an unknown man when he entered Jerusalem that morning; but, after carrying Jesus’ cross a short distance, his name was etched into the halls of immortality. Simon did not even in his distant thoughts imagine that he would be chosen for such a purpose. Wherever the gospel is preached, the story of what he did is told. He will be forever connected with the sacrifice of Jesus, the greatest event that this world will ever know. Because of Jesus, Simon was changed from a nameless face to an ageless name.
This also is an indication of the truth that what we intent to do or to happen is one thing, but God has a plan and purpose for each one of us, and they are usually things that we might have never imagined in the remotest of our thoughts or dreams and that is what will happen irrespective of our intentions. That is a reason why it is said that give in to God's Will and you will be glorified.

Just think of it Jesus was in severe agony,  beaten with stick, fist and lashes, spat upon, cursed and humiliated to the core, weakened, bleeding profusely after the brutal torture. That pathetic condition of Jesus Mentally and Physically is beyond imagination and excruciatingly sorrowful, here are a few bible verses depicting the same.

1. "And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground," (Luke 22:44).
2.  "And when He had said this, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" (John 18:22-23).
3. "And some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers received Him with slaps in the face," (Mark 14:65). 
4. "Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified," (Matt. 27:26).
5. "And after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews! "And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him," (Matt. 27:29-31). 

Simon did something for Jesus that Jesus could not do for Himself. The act of Simon, even though he was compelled to do it, was unique. At this moment in time, Jesus needed someone to carry His cross; Simon, being handy, was ordered to do it—and he did. He may have thought at first that he was being taken advantage of; after all, he was from North Africa, not Jerusalem. However, as Simon carried the cross and watched this figure in front of him, he no doubt saw something marvelously different about Him. Anyone who looks into the face of Jesus cannot remain unchanged. Undoubtedly, somewhere along the way, Simon must have looked into the face of Jesus as He was walking to Golgotha to give His life and blood for the sin of the world. In divine providence, Simon was permitted to be close to Jesus at this special time in history. He must have learned something about Him—not necessarily by listening to Him, but by observing the conduct, personality, and bearing that set Him apart from all other people. When the Holy Blood and Sweat of Jesus spilled and smeared on Simon en route Calvary he might have received a divine cognizance.

No one can do for Jesus precisely what Simon did; yet, in a sense, we are called upon in our daily living to carry Jesus’ cross—that is, to walk after Jesus, bearing the shame and reproach of the cross. We are to take up our crosses, which really means resolving to do what Jesus did and to live the way Jesus lived. Simon did for Jesus what Jesus could not do for Himself; even so, we live in this world as the spiritual body of Jesus, serving as His hands and feet among the people around us. In this way, we do for Jesus what He no longer does for Himself in this world. We walk behind Jesus, carrying His cross for Him, spreading the gospel throughout the world.

As Simon entered Jerusalem that morning, he must have anticipated with great gladness the keeping of the Passover. Maybe he had not enjoyed that privilege before. By Sharing the weight of the cross He was able to get a share from the Glory of the Son of God, He got his name etched in the book of salvation by being besides Christ by supporting him in his weakened state. Little did he know that this special day in his life would turn into his greatest day, a day that would no doubt change him, his family, and even the  world.

We as followers of Christ are asked to do something in our daily life, something that we try to escape from, something that we knowingly or unknowingly thrust onto others, we are called by our Lord to do something similar to what Simon did.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" (Matthew 16:24)