Who Helped Jesus Carry The Cross? – Simon of Cyrene

This was due to his mistreatment and all the whipping as punishment. For the same reason, he was assisted in carrying his cross. The person who was chosen to ease Jesus’ burden was Simon of Cyrene. He bore the weight of the cross alongside Jesus which became an integral moment. If you desire to explore more about this topic, stay tuned. This blog will be covering  “Who helped Jesus carry the cross?” and much more elaborately.

Who Helped Jesus Carry The Cross? 

It was Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry the heavy cross for his crucifixion. All the gospels including Matthew, Mark, and Luke prove Simon’s involvement. According to sources, Simon was chosen and compelled by the Roman soldiers to help Jesu Christ. His role in the crucifixion is crystal clear in the Christian theology. In contrast, Simon’s emotions while doing so or his motivation are not described.

Historical Context – Who Helped Jesus Carry The Cross? 

The Stations of the Cross depicts Jesus Christ’s journey on the day of his crucifixion. And, Simon was also represented in between. Christian scholars believe that Simon was chosen due to his clear sympathy for Jesu Christ. Whereas, other people claim that Simon had no choice but to follow the orders. Hence, he may have been forced by Roman officials to carry the cross with Jesus. These same people argue that there is nothing to prove that Simon did it out of his generosity and sympathy.

Matthew 27:32 says “And, as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, whom they compelled to bear his cross”. Furthermore, Mark 15:21 refers to Simon as “The father of Alexander and Rufus”. You can understand the importance of Simon’s help much better with the historical practices of Romans. Undoubtedly, crucifixion was the most brutal form of execution ever used by Romans. It was common punishment for the rebels and criminals in the Roman Empire.

The most number of executions by crucifixion took place in the Judea province. The condemned/accused had to carry their own cross to the place of execution. In the story of Jesus, he had to carry it to the Golgotha. Roman soldiers were allowed to use civilians for different services and tasks. So, they asked Simon to help Jesus in carrying the cross due to his weakened state.

Who was Simon of Cyrene? 

Only the Synoptic Gospels are known to mention Simon of Cyrene. The Gospel of John doesn’t mention his name. However, other Gospels identified Simon in different verses. As has been noted, Matthew 27:32 is the most important verse associated with him. It says “As they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon, and they made him carry the cross of Jesus”. According to 15:21, Simon was also the father of disciples named Alexander and Rufus.

Most likely, he was a pilgrim who traveled to Jerusalem. Basically, Cyrene is a North African city. In the modern day, it is known as Libya. Cyrene was known to have a large Jewish population. It was common for Jews to leave this region and come to Jerusalem. They did so for passing over as pilgrims. Simon is believed to be one such individual from Cyrene.

Luke 23:26 represents how Roman soldiers gave the cross and made him carry it to Golgotha. This was before Simon was called to help Jesus and one of the most significant moments of Christianity was unfolded.

 Simon Carrying The Cross’s Biblical Accounts

Simon’s participation is represented in multiple Gospel narratives with different contexts. Matthew is known to emphasize on the fact that Simon was found and chosen by Roman soldiers. They made him carry the heavy cross alongside Jesus Christ. Some sources claim that he was forced to do this and not given an actual choice. Mark went one step further and named his sons. This showcases that the family of Simon had significant roles to play in early Christianity.

Luke shows how the cross was placed on the shoulders of Simon due to Jesus’s weakness after mistreatment. Thereafter, he was positioned behind Jesus Christ to carry the cross and complete the crucifixion process. Most of the expert opinions hint that Simon did not volunteer willingly or out of sympathy. Even though he was compelled by the Roman soldiers to do this service, Simon’s role is still remembered to this day after all the centuries.

Symbolic Representation of Simon Carrying The Cross 

As has been noted, the Gospels do not mention how Simon felt while helping Jesus Christ carry the cross. Well, the Christians have extracted several symbolic meanings of his act:

• Some people believe that Simon was sharing Jesus’s burden as a disciple. Hence, he might be fulfilling the teachings of discipleship given by Jesus.
• Similarly, Christians also think that he participated in the suffering of Jesus Christ. Scholars perceive that Simon was representing all the believers and humanity while helping Jesus. In a way, he shared Jesus’s suffering even if he did it unwillingly. As of now, Simon is often addressed as the symbol of solidarity and compassion.
• Lastly, a theme of universal salvation is also associated with Simon’s act. As has been noted, Simon hailed from the North African city named Cyrene. This showcases the impact and reach of Christian teachings at the time. They consider his act to be a form of salvation for all of humanity through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

After Simon helped Jesus carry the cross and the crucifixion was done, there are no further details about his life. Some Christian writings showcase that Simon and his family became a part of the Christian community. In Romans 16:13, Simon’s son Rufus was greeted by Paul the Apostle. Therefore, Simon’s legacy is believed to be about being devoted as a Christian. To commemorate his act, The Chapel of Simon of Cyrene was established in Jerusalem.