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 they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
On the road from the judgment-hall to Calvary outside Jerusalem, Jesus weakened by scourging and loss of blood fell fainting beneath the heavy cross prepared for Barabbas, and the soldiers seized Simon a Cyrenian coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, and compelled him to bear it the rest of the way. The priests and rulers saw He could carry it no farther yet felt no compassion, and since the Jews could not bear it without defilement that would bar them from the Passover, another had to be forced to carry it at their instigation. Simon himself had not yet accepted Jesus and was not yet His disciple, though his sons already believed in Him, while those who held the other view taught that he already believed though he had not openly professed it. His forced service stirred his sympathy and brought him close to Christ's suffering, and by witnessing what He endured at Calvary and hearing His words he came to acknowledge Him as the Son of God and the world's Redeemer. He ever after counted it a merciful providence that placed him where he could receive evidence for himself, and his unwilling burden became a blessing that led him to take up the cross of Christ willingly and cheerfully thereafter.
Road to Calvary
The procession moved from the judgment-hall toward Calvary outside Jerusalem after news of the condemnation had spread throughout the city. A vast multitude of people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion. Because the priests and rulers were bound by a promise not to molest Christ's followers if He Himself were delivered to them, the disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng that followed Him.
Scarcely past the gate of Pilate's house the heavy cross prepared for Barabbas was laid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders. Crosses were also placed upon the two thieves who were to die with Him. Weakened and bleeding as He was led out, He could no longer bear its weight.
Weakened by scourging and blows, by loss of blood and by excessive exhaustion, weariness and pain, He fell fainting beneath it after bearing it only a few rods. The cross had been placed upon His shoulders three times, and when He revived and was forced forward He staggered a few steps and then fell as one lifeless. He was at first pronounced dead before reviving again. His mother longed to support His wounded head but was denied that privilege.
The crowd showed no compassion, and those who could have carried it would not. Though the priests and rulers felt no compassion, they saw it was impossible for Him to carry it farther. They were puzzled to find anyone who would humiliate himself to bear it to the place of execution, since the Jews could not do it without defilement that would keep them from the coming Passover. At the priests' instigation another was seized and compelled to carry it.
The one seized was Simon a Cyrenian, a passerby coming out of the country who met the crowd from the opposite direction. He is identified as the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Simon's Conversion and Example
Simon's sons were disciples of Jesus and believed in Him, but Simon himself had not yet been connected with Him, had not yet accepted Him, and was not yet a disciple. In another light, the one seized and made to carry the cross to the place of execution was a follower who believed in Him though he had not openly professed faith in Him. Simon stopped in compassion at the sight of Jesus and the crowd's abuse, and the cross he was forced to bear brought him close to Jesus' suffering.
His forced service deeply stirred his sympathy for Jesus, and witnessing Jesus' suffering and the events at Calvary and hearing His words led him to recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and the world's Redeemer. He ever after regarded that singular providence that placed him where he could receive evidence for himself as grounds for gratitude to God for the privilege of bearing the cross. His involuntary act became a blessing that led him to choose the cross of Christ and bear it willingly and cheerfully thereafter.
Christ suffered outside the city, as Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, bearing the curse of the law as humanity's substitute. His approach to the cross is a descent into humiliation as the Bridegroom taken away from the children of the bride-chamber, crowned with thorns, clad in the purple robe, mocked with bowing and with the reed struck against Him, scourged as the worst of criminals while the murderous Barabbas is chosen in His place, then lifted up on the cross to die as a malefactor. This taking away tries faith and causes hope and courage to fail and gives cause to mourn and fast. Led to crucifixion weak and fainting, stretched on the cross, enduring hours of agony as nails were driven through His hands and feet, He accepted suffering for humanity that makes any sacrifice for Him small by comparison. His disciples followed in grief and despair, remembering that only days earlier they had welcomed Him into Jerusalem hoping He would reign as a temporal king.