Luke 23:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This resonates with the prophecy of Isaiah: "the government shall be upon His shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). The cross thus represents the Lord's dominion and sovereignty. The Apostle Paul writes, "He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:8-9). If the cross became the pinnacle of glory for Jesus, it rightfully stands as His "headship," representing His supreme dignity and authority. Just as senators display their statuses through symbols like garments or sashes, the Lord establishes the cross as the emblem of His realm. Upon reflection, it becomes evident that Jesus reigns within us solely through suffering; those entrenched in complacency are adversaries of the cross. Conversely, he who submits to Christ, takes up His cross, and diligently practices virtue—he who "goes out of the field," meaning he departs from this worldly existence and its pursuits, aims toward the celestial Jerusalem, which is free (Galatians 4:26).

There is a profound significance in Christ, the Redeemer of all, bearing the cross, as Isaiah proclaimed, “unto us a Child is born, and a Son is given unto us; and the government shall be upon His shoulder.” The cross served as His reign, through which He became sovereign over the earth, given that “He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Additionally, it is noteworthy that when the blessed Abraham ascended the mountain designated for the sacrifice of Isaac, in obedience to divine command, he placed the wood upon his son’s back. This act serves as a foreshadowing of Christ bearing His cross and ascending toward the glory of His suffering. The glory of Christ's Passion was revealed by Him, stating, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him.”

He owned a house in Jerusalem, where other Jews from Cyrene lived, and as noted in the book of Acts, they had their own synagogue. Simon was returning from his field when he encountered those escorting Jesus out of the city. The soldiers seized him and compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus. His coming from the field indicates that he was not involved in the dark events of that day. Given the crowd following Jesus, the soldiers could have chosen anyone, yet they forcibly selected Simon, suggesting a reason behind their choice that considered his association with Jesus’ supporters. The Evangelist Mark adds that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus, indicating that they were well-known Christians at the time Mark wrote his Gospel, reflecting positively on Simon’s legacy. Thus, it is clear that while Simon was made to carry Jesus' cross, he accepted the burden willingly. When the cross was placed upon Simon, Jesus was positioned in front of him, ensuring that it was understood that the one condemned was Jesus, not Simon. Jesus retained the shame of the cross.

Dear listeners, what does this teach us? It does not bring honor, glory, or sanctity for us to stand among Christ's enemies or to be part of the idle crowd on the road to Golgotha. We must distance ourselves from both groups and not follow Jesus with hearts of frivolity. Simon's experience further defines our responsibilities. Notice how the Lord walks before Simon, laden with the cross—does this not signify that He calls us to follow Him along the path of suffering? An ancient teacher remarked that while it was necessary for Christ to bear the cross, it is equally vital that we bear our own in order to fulfill the obligation that grants us salvation. A disciple of Christ is one who carries the cross and follows Him. Christ's suffering was not meant to spare us from earthly trials but empowers our own sufferings to become acceptable to God when endured with living faith in Him, our Savior. Simon’s bearing of the cross brought relief to the weary Jesus, even as the work of redemption was accomplished on Calvary by Christ alone. Similarly, when a Christian accepts the trials of life with grace, he honors the Lord Jesus, sharing in the weight of His hardship and expressing love for His path. The heavenly Father looks upon Christ’s followers with affection. How can a believer decline to carry tribulations, knowing that they purify our souls like fire, cleansing away sin? If Simon did not take up the cross of Jesus willingly, it can be understood. The glory of Christ’s cross was made manifest through His crucifixion and glorification. But how can we distance ourselves from the cross when we recognize that Jesus achieved glory by enduring it and that countless saints attained eternal glory through their participation in His sufferings? Those clothed in white robes in heaven have emerged from great tribulation. Do we not comprehend that the accolades of this world and its grandeur are mere vanity, yet the glory conferred upon the friends of Christ’s cross remains everlasting, steadfast, and majestic? Simon, a humble Jew and simple farmer, has gained the world’s recognition for carrying Jesus’ cross. His name is preserved through the ages in the Holy Gospel, spoken with reverence around the globe by all people, regardless of status. What awaits those who refuse to carry the cross of Christ? With tears, Paul lamented over Christ's enemies, declaring their end to be destruction due to their gods being their appetites, and their glory residing in shame. If we have yet to embrace the courage required to undertake the challenges of the cross voluntarily, let us at the very least not flee from the tribulations that Providence places upon us. It is unbecoming for a Christian to make strenuous efforts to free oneself from following the sufferer of Golgotha; such resistance to the divine will only leads to resentment against the providential path that includes suffering, disgrace, sickness, or loss. In seeking escape, they drown out the call for repentance during their trials. Many realize that the wide path, which they previously trod in search of happiness, leads to ruin; they recognize that their earthly treasures have only brought about eternal loss for their souls. Still, they view God’s will as burdensome and seek to return to the path of ease. O Lord Jesus, guide our wills to embrace Your cross, which grants us salvation. Amen.

Are you not sometimes too lenient with yourself while being overly harsh on others, similar to the Pharisees who imposed heavy, unbearable loads on the people without lifting a finger to help? The Gospel speaks of Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross of Jesus, indicating that no one naturally embraces the cross; rather, we must strive to confront our aversion. In His benevolence, God gently urges us, through loving nudges, to seek Him. For our salvation, even in our resistance, He provides us with the cross, along with illnesses, hardships, and sorrows that are often misaligned with our preferences. Occasionally, the world observes a great sinner abandoning it and returning to God, interpreting this shift as either driven by annoyance or despair, which is a common worldly perspective; yet how blessed is that annoyance! How sacred that despair! If this is the case, the initial urge of annoyance quickly fades, and in the meantime, a person is subtly drawn into the service of God, bound by a loving connection that eases the yoke of Christ, which may have initially felt overwhelming. Some, seduced by fanciful notions or devious advice, choose a lifestyle that appears to guarantee happiness, only to encounter disheartening outcomes. Conversely, others, against their will but in obedience, embark on a path that contradicts their desires, honor Divine Providence, embrace their crosses willingly, and ultimately discover that this very journey leads them to salvation.

As some women of Jerusalem wept at the sight of His sufferings, He encouraged them, saying, ‘Weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.’ He then predicted the severe trials that would soon come upon Jerusalem during its siege, adding, ‘If it be done to a green tree, what shall be done to the dry?’ This statement underscores the severity of suffering faced by the righteous compared to that of the sinful.

Anxious to ensure the completion of their bloodlust, the chief priests instructed the Roman centurion to relieve Jesus of His burden. The centurion and his soldiers were indifferent to the timing of the condemned's death; what mattered was that it would occur. Carrying the cross was an act of disgrace, and it was rare for anyone to willingly accept such a task, forcing the soldiers to seize the first passerby to bear it. Simon of Cyrene, returning to the city from working in the fields, was compelled to take up the cross. The soldiers approached him, placed the cross upon his shoulders, and to avoid any misconception that Simon was likewise condemned, they made Jesus walk in front of him. According to Matthew, this event transpired as they exited the city, at the city gate (Matthew 27:32). The Gospel of Mark adds that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). The mention of Simon's sons by Mark suggests they were well-known within the Christian community at the time of his writing. It is believed that one of them is the same Rufus to whom the Apostle Paul sent greetings in his letter to the Romans (Rom. 16:13).

Eventually, it became part of the system of punishments endorsed by Augustus and was widely used against various rebels and major offenders of state law.

For the Jewish people, this method of execution was particularly abhorrent because it was distinctly pagan. The Old Testament only suggests instances of someone being 'hung on a tree' in contexts where it was done over a corpse or as an exceptional measure permitted by certain kings due to pagan influences. Generally, crucifying a Jew would have been unthinkable, as it would have deeply offended the national sentiments of the people. However, the fervent demand by the chief priests, Jewish leaders, and the crowd for the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth reveals the extreme malice and hatred incited by the ruler of this world, eager to demonstrate his dominion over the earth through such an act of evil.

As the sentence was executed, the soldiers fashioned a cross and laid it upon the shoulders of the condemned. The somber procession made its way outside the city to Golgotha, also known as the place of the skull due to its distinctive shape. Following the condemned was a growing crowd, stirred by the identity of the Prisoner and the sensational circumstances surrounding His trial, particularly among the many pilgrims present in the city. As they proceeded, the weight of the cross—a representation of the sins of the entire world—caused Christ's body, already weakened from immense spiritual and physical suffering, to falter. To ensure the execution continued without delay, the soldiers compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross, granting him the profound privilege of aiding in the bearing of this redemptive burden.

Yet Christ endured the pain with patience, mourning for the hardness of the people's hearts and the dreadful fate that awaited this sinful nation. “Do not weep for me,” He addressed the women, “but weep for yourselves and your children! For if they do this to a green tree, what will happen to a dry one?” (Luke 23:27-28, 31).