This is likely the scenario that led Simon to carry the cross for Jesus.
Maybe it was just pure expediency: We got to get this man up there to get him crucified. Or it might have been a moment of compassion from one of the Roman soldiers. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. He and his sons seem to have become believers due to this privileged incident about Simon helping Jesus carry his crossbeam (Mark 15.21). Simon felt the weight of it upon his back and walked away with the blood of Christ still upon him, the blood that would shortly fulfill all prophecy and take away the sin of the world. Well, he died. 
What Does the Bible Say about Women Pastors? Simon of Cyrene has just a passing mention in the Scriptures; his name appears in only three verses, all pertaining to carrying the cross for Jesus. Does Luke want us to remember Luke 9:23, where he said, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me? 
You can go talk to him and ask him what it was like.. Article Source: What Are the Keys to the Kingdom that Jesus Gave Peter? What is Maundy Thursday?What Is Good Friday? 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Lessons Learned in a Mothers Bible Study, The Truth about Why Men Hate Going to Church, 10 Things You Should Never Say to Your Pastor, 10 Things Everyone Should Know about the Methodist Church, 5 Ways Selfishness Shows Up in Society Today, Pentatonix Sings 'Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)' A Cappella, Good Night Prayers for Evening and Peaceful Sleep at Bedtime, 4 Areas Women Can Experience Freedom in Christ, An Important Lesson on Distraction from Mary and Martha, Yes, the World's Gone Crazy; Here's Why That's Good for the Church, Encouragement for the Special Needs Mom Struggling with Worry, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2022, Crosswalk.com.
What about the two diagonal bruise marks on his back? The markings on the tunic indicate a criss-cross pattern, created by the pressure of the entire cross, the pitabulum, and the striations, on his back, despite the tunic cushioning the bruises. When Jesus took back the cross and gave his life upon it, Jesus carried the weight of all our sins. I dont see really clear, decisive clues here or in any of the Gospels for why the Gospel writers include this fact. This could be a lesson that every moment of our lives coming in from the country, we should be ready to be snatched into the service of Jesus in a painful way.
In the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the pitabulum of the good thief is displayed. One of the reasons for that may be that Simon, who carried the cross, may have become a well-known presence in the early church so that the mere reference to his name functions as just another historical evidence. The best explanation is that the early readers of this Gospel knew who Simon was, and knew his children as well. Helena took the relics related to the crucifixion to Rome. Since all of this happened before he began to carry his cross, he would have suffered a certain amount of blood loss and therefore have been very weakened. The Shroud reveals evidence that Christs nose appears to be broken and his right cheek swollen, injuries consistent with one or more falls while holding the crossbeam for as long as he did. However, for Jesus to have carried the entire cross-the stipes (vertical pole) and the pitabulum (cross beam) -would have weighed much less. We deserve to be punished. He was scourged with a whip that no doubt had pieces of sharp bone and perhaps metal attached to it (Matt 27.26; Mark 15.15). Article Images Copyright .
In 15 short lessons you will learn Gods message for you in his Word. Whats the significance of Simon carrying Jesuss cross? He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. So, the tau cross was traditionally used and not the Latin cross, unique to Jesus. Therefore, he could not have walked half a mile to Golgatha without falling due to navigating barefoot through the rough and uneven terrain. | We also know that there is a man named Rufus at the church in Rome, so it is not a stretch to think that this co-laborer for the gospel may well be the son of Simon of Cyrene mentioned by Mark. The measurements of the good thief's crossbeam indicate that it weighed much less than previously thought, as probably did the stipes. Roman crucifixion in itself was not unusual but was a common practice of the Romans as a form of capital punishment and intimidation. Another reason is that the Romans wanted the upright to remain visible at all times as a reminder of the mighty Roman Empire, the consequences of serious wrongdoing, and the horrifying nature of execution by crucifixion. We dont know why Simon specifically was selected for this task, other than the fact that he was there, he looked capable, and it was clear Jesus had become too weak to carry the cross on his own. On occasion, a person would be asked to walk an extra mile in service to the Romans. Every good Christian is familiar with the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ. In more secular places around the Roman Empire, filthy stipes lay on the ground waiting for their next victim. Using computer modeling, which analyzed the back of the Shroud, they discovered that there were more than two abrasion marks on the Shroud; there were nine blood marks which correspond to the tunic Jesus was wearing (John 19:23-24). According to Andr Marion & Gerard Lucotte, French authors of the 2006 groundbreaking book, The Shroud of Turin and the Argenteuil Tunic, Jesus bore the whole cross. He took the punishment we deserve and thus satisfied the requirement of the law that sin be punished (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24). It would have to have been heavy for a person who had not been severely beaten, like Simon of Cyrene, to carry the crossbeam of Jesus. This type of cross is known as a "tau"cross in the shape of a "T". Simon means hearer or he has heard, and must have had an especially strong meaning for these men in particular, who had literally heard the good news of Jesus, and been so intimately a part of that good news.
(From an anonymous article, Why did Jesus carry the entire cross and not just the gallows). All the other Gospels that mention this just say he carried it. Most victims would not have been physically capable of carrying an entire cross due to their heavy weight. But it does not correlate with the historical evidence concerning how the Romans performed crucifixions. Simons actions seemed to mirror the words Jesus had spoken to his disciples in Matthew 16:24: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
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What Is the Mezuzah Prayer and Is it Biblical? Today we talk about one of the little stories of the crucifixion narrative, Pastor John, specifically the figure of Simon of Cyrene. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. But there was one burden Simon could not help Jesus with the burden of the sin of all mankind; past, present and future. He needed help so that his obedience would not falter. Incredibly, the Bible never says that Jesus carried His own cross, except in the Book of John. According to Dr. Pierre Barbet, early groundbreaking author of A Doctor at Calvary: The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ As Described by a Surgeon, the crossbeam called the pitabulum would have weighed about 125 pounds and the large vertical pole-the stipes would have weighed 250 pounds. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! It would be like saying, Hes the one who carried the cross.
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Through careful analysis of the biological and forensic evidence, we can learn about how Jesus suffered. Mark tells us that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The Codex Sinaiticus differs from the "modern" bible in 15,887 instances, some trivial, some ", TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian. Supreme Court Upholds Coach's Public Prayers. Join 5000+ readers! If He had not done this, we would be separated from God forever (Romans 6:23). (Location 861, Kindle). We may never know what impact our daily sacrifice will have on others, perhaps an impact beyond our own time. In other words, death loomed in front of him. It would have to have been heavy for a person who had not been severely beaten, like Simon of Cyrene, to carry Jesus' crossbeam. In fact, when Pilate was later informed that Jesus had already died before dusk, he was so surprised he had died that soon that he sent a centurion to confirm it (cf. It has also been speculated that Jesus had to carry the entire cross, because the dirty, used stipes, covered in blood and feces were taken out of their holes in the ground and stored. Sometimes, when authors are reporting facts, they give us clear clues and pointers as to why they are including those facts and what they want us to learn from them. Among those details, we meet Simon of Cyrene: a person whose legacy has left a significant impact. Its weight is 25 kg or 55 pounds. When the accused was condemned to death at the official place of judgment, the crossbeam was then laid on the victims shoulders and upper back, with their arms stretched out and around it, and they would carry it to their place of execution. This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Required fields are marked *. And thats really all they are. Yet, many scholars believe Christ only carried the crossbeam on which his wrists were nailed. How is it, then, that historys most glorious moment is surrounded by fearful fishermen, despised tax collectors, marginalized women, feeble politicians, and traitorous friends? Otherwise, it would have been most cumbersome to place the upright in its hole each time and have it remain stable with a mans body atached to it. Luke might say, Let it be noted that a foreigner served Jesus in his final hour indeed, an African. Thats suggestion number one. Jesus was in such weakened condition from the scourging he could barely carry the crossbeam itself. By careful analysis of the biological and forensic evidence, we can learn about how Jesus suffered. We cant let this man just die here of exhaustion under his cross., Fifth (my final suggestion), only Luke tells us that in the garden of Gethsemane Jesus is in agony and was helped by an angel as he prayed.
She couldn't determine which cross belonging to Jesus, so a terminally ill woman touched each cross until she laid her hand on the one which miraculously made her sickness vanish. And he pleaded with his Father, Dont let death destroy me like that. And an angel came and helped him. Then a crown of thorns was placed on his head. We know that when Jesus cried out to his heavenly Father in Gethsemane, he was given help. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
Heres what I mean. In other words, just the opposite of compassion: Weve got to get nails through his hands and nails through his feet. What about the two diagonal bruise marks across his back? It is believed to have been made of solid wood , so the whole cross is estimated to be over 300 pounds (136 kilograms) while the crossbar is estimated to be around 70 -90 pounds (32-41 kilograms) . Next, the soldiers would have raised the crossbeam, with Jesus on it, with the use of ropes, perhaps pulleys, and a wooden, forked pole until they affixed the crossbeam to a niche in the stationary upright.
That cross, and that blood, carried a weight and a significance that Simon could never carry. So, if Jesus bore a much lighter complete cross, it would have been the traditional "Latin" cross- a "t".
Whether Luke intended us to see that or not, its true. Then the Roman soldiers drove nails into his wrists. God answered his prayers.
All rights reserved. It would be like saying, This man right there that you know, he carried the cross.. All the other gospels include Simon of Cyrene as the reluctant man who helps Jesus on the way to Golgatha. There are no exact figures on the weight of the cross. So, Jesus would have carried only the crossbeam. But what we may not think about as quickly is whether this act to get Simon to help was an act of compassion or cruelty or simple expediency. On the other hand, many of todays Shroud scholars believe that Christ carried the entire cross. Then a nail was driven through his feet. On the backside of the Shroud two large straight diagonal abrasions are marked from the right shoulder blade down to the left. Church father Ignatius (d. 110-117 CE), in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus (Ephesians 9.2), alludes to this common method of fixing the crossbeam to the upright. Yet we can be assured that our actions in following Christ will most certainly have an impact and will give life and meaning to those around us. We dont know if he was visiting Jerusalem or lived there, but what we know is that the Gospels draw attention to the fact that this mans got a foreign origin. So, Jesus and the two thieves crucified with him had to carry both stipes and pitabulum. Marions analysis of the Argenteuil Shroud and Robe suggests that the top of the vertical beam was carried on the left shoulder, while the full weight of the horizontal beam fell on the right shoulder. And Mark is sometimes associated with Peter as a Gospel writer, and Peter is associated with Rome, and in Romans 16, theres a man named Rufus. In my opinion, the Shroud of Turin is the famous, large cloth is the true linen in which the temporarily dead body of Christ lay for three days. This could be bags, equipment, or in this case, a cross. The account of the crucifixion begins at the Antonia Fortress in the heart of Jerusalem, where Jesus would have been tried, flogged, and condemned to crucifixion. ThisFREE podcast provides a fresh approach to the Lenten season and can be used as a devotional or study for both individuals and groups. So, the tau cross was traditionally used and not the Latin cross, exclusive to Jesus. Your email address will not be published. Hes an African. We also know that Simon was from a place called Cyrene, so why was he in Jerusalem? It appears that Simon, who was literally following Jesus, would eventually become a true follower and disciple of Jesus. So, he could not have walked a half mile to Golgatha without falling due to navigating the uneven, rough terrain with bare feet. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ! We can learn a bit about Simon just by his name. That is why they had to force Simon to help Jesus bear the burden. To make matters worse, Jesus' arms and hands were tied to the crossbeam. However, many scholars believe that Christ only carried the cross beam into which his wrists were nailed. She could not determine which cross belonged to Jesus, so a terminal woman touched each cross until she placed her hand on the one that miraculously made her illness disappear. The only way out was for Jesus, who is perfect in every way, to become a perfect sacrifice and take upon Himself the sin of mankind. Harrington A Lackey| So, Jesus and the two thieves crucified with him had to carry both stipes and pitabulum. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Were on a mission to change that. The call to suffer for Jesus is often sudden and costly and seemingly random. Could it be, then, that Simons stepping in to help Jesus make it to the cross, to help Jesus just at that moment, was like the angel showing up at the perfect moment as the humanly weak Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and now on the road to the cross needed help to finish his mission? Now, Jesus had been very badly beaten.
In conclusion, this common method of crucifixionwith the upright of a traditional cross remaining in place and the victim carrying the crossbeam therewould have made it more plausible that the Romans crucified perhaps up to tens of thousand of victims per year.
Historians and anthropologists also inform us that during the time of Jesus, Jewish men averaged about five feet, seven inches in height. Now how does that work? This was really good for me to think about because Ive read that a hundred times and have not paused, like so many of these questions force me to do. Mark also tells us Simon was on his way in, meaning he was actually headed the opposite direction, and going into Jerusalem while Jesus and the others were going out.
Marks on the tunic indicate a cross pattern, created by the pressure of the whole cross- the pitabulum and the stipes - on his back, despite the tunic which buffered the bruises. The robe that Jesus wore for the crucifixion overlaid the markings on the Shroud. This was probably done because in and around a holy place like Jerusalem, religious law prohibits anyone from touching anything unclean. So the total weight of Jesus cross would be about 90 pounds. This event is recorded in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, and in Luke 23:26. Roman soldiers had the right to place someone into their service to carry things for one mile. There are little things like that that cause people to say, Okay, this is an allusion to a man that everybody in the church knew. He had become something of a known person, and so you dont have to say anything about him. The new computerized data clearly shows more bruises that form a perpendicular cross pattern from his bruised shoulders to where the stipes meet the pitabulum between and below both shoulder blades.