Let’s look at those accounts given to us in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 

  • Matthew 27:31-32, “And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” 
  • Mark 15:20-21, “And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 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.” 
  • Luke 23:26, “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.” 

What do we learn from these accounts?  This is after the mock trial the Lord Jesus endured, after His time before Herod, and after His time before Pilate.  He had been condemned to death and was being led to the outside of Jerusalem to the place called Golgotha.  We see that there was a man named Simon, who was “coming out of the country.”  Coming back into the city, it’s possible that he knew nothing about the trial and condemnation of the Lord and perhaps drew closer to see what was going on and was forced to carry the Lord’s cross.  Simon was from Cyrene, which was in Libya (Acts 2:10).  Along with the Libertines and Alexandrians, the Cyrenians had a synagogue in Jerusalem (Acts 6:9).  We also learn that Simon had two sons, Alexander and Rufus.  It is probably that same Rufus that is mentioned in Romans 16:13, “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.” 

Now, let’s read John 19:16-17, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.”  This account tells us the Lord carried His own cross out to Golgotha to be crucified.

None of these accounts are incorrect, but none tell the complete story alone.  Together, we get a fuller understanding of what happened.  Obviously, the Lord bore His own cross, as was customary for condemned criminals.  It seems that the Lord had been beaten so badly that, at one point, He could no longer endure the weight of that cross.  In Isaiah 52:14, we get a glimpse of the beaten appearance of the Lord.  That says, “Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.” (NIV).  It was at this point, on the outside of the walls of Jerusalem that Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus was forced to carry that cross.  Oh, what a blessed thing…to carry that cross of the Lord Jesus.  Because of its mention in the Bible, Simon will eternally be known as that one who carried that cross. 

From this, we learn the value of comparing scripture with scripture so that we might get a full understanding of what the Lord desires for us to learn. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Knowing that ALL scripture is ‘God-breathed’ we do well to be serious students of God’s Word so that we might get the full picture and be “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  (CC)  (691.6)