Mark 15:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He owned a home in Jerusalem, a location where other Jews from Cyrene lived, and as recorded in the book of Acts, they had their own synagogue. Simon was returning from his field when he encountered those leading Jesus out of the city. The soldiers compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus. The fact that Simon was coming from the field suggests he had no part in the dark events of that day. Given the large crowd following Jesus, the soldiers did not seize anyone else, and Simon was chosen almost certainly for a significant reason, which was understood by the enemies of Jesus. This leads us to believe that Simon was among Jesus's admirers. The Evangelist Mark also notes that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus, implying that by the time St. Mark wrote his Gospel, Alexander and Rufus were notable Christians, thereby enhancing Simon's renown. Hence, it is clear that although Simon was forced to carry the cross, he did so willingly. When the cross was placed on Simon, Jesus was positioned ahead of him, indicating that it was Jesus who was condemned, not Simon. Therefore, the dishonor associated with the cross remained with Jesus.

Dear listeners, what does this require of us? It is neither honor nor glory to stand with the enemies of Jesus, nor to be part of the idle masses along the road to Golgotha. We must be distinct from both groups, avoiding a followership of Jesus marked by dissipation and frivolity. Furthermore, what occurred with Simon clarifies our obligation. Observe that the Lord leads the way, burdened with the cross. Does this not communicate that He calls us to follow Him on the path of suffering? An ancient teacher observed that it was necessary for Christ to bear the cross, and likewise, it is essential for us not to disregard it, thus fulfilling the compulsion that leads to our salvation. Whoever does not take up the cross and follow Jesus cannot be His disciple. Christ did not endure His sufferings to spare us earthly hardships; rather, His sufferings empower our trials to be acceptable to God when we bear them with living faith in Him, our Savior. By carrying the cross of Jesus, Simon provided relief to the weary Lord, even though the work of redemption was carried out on Calvary by Jesus Himself. In the same manner, the Christian, who faces temporal tribulations with acceptance, brings joy to the Lord, participating in His struggles and showing love for His path. The heavenly Father gazes upon the follower of Christ with affection. How can a Christian shy away from hardship, when trials can purify our inner being and, like fire, consume sin from our hearts? My friends, it is understandable that if Simon did not willingly take up the cross of Jesus, his reaction was justified. The glory of the cross of Christ was revealed in the glorification of Jesus upon the cross. Yet how can we remain detached from His cross, knowing that Jesus was exalted for enduring it, and that countless saints have received eternal glory for sharing in His sufferings? Who are those clothed in white robes, and whence have they come? These are they who have emerged from the great tribulation. Do we not recognize that all worldly fame and earthly accolades are mere vanity, while the glory conferred upon the friends of Christ's cross endures, being ever faithful and majestic? Simon, a humble Jew and straightforward farmer, attained worldly renown for bearing the cross of Jesus. His name has transcended ages, reverberating through all corners of the earth, spoken with respect by kings and commoners, the affluent and the impoverished, the educated and the unlearned.

But what will be the fate of those who seek to rid themselves of the cross of Christ? With tears, St. Paul lamented the enemies of the cross of Christ, declaring their end to be destruction, for their god is their appetite, and their glory is found in shame. If we lack the courage to voluntarily embrace the challenges of the cross, let us at least not flee from the tribulations that divine Providence sets upon us. How disgraceful for a Christian, how offensive to our Lord, is the effort invested in evading the path laid out by the Sufferer of Golgotha! Then a tumultuous outcry against Providence obscures any submission to the will of the Almighty, which determines our share of poverty or disgrace, suffering or loss. Amidst this chaos, they rush to silence the call for repentance in times of distress. They realize that the broad road, once traveled under the guise of happiness, is, in fact, a treacherous path. They understand that the earthly treasures they once sought have only led to the ruin of their souls. Yet, despite this, God's salvific will appears burdensome to them, and they seize opportunities to return to their former paths of superficial joy. O Lord Jesus, instill in our hearts a love for Your cross, which offers us salvation. Amen.

The Lord, seeking to comfort them, redirecting their focus from His own suffering, speaks of the impending judgment upon Jerusalem, warning that such calamities will befall its people that the blessing of giving birth will be longed for no more, and individuals will wish for a swift but painful death to escape the impending horrors. He points out that if a holy and blameless man endures such immense suffering, how severe must the judgment of God be for sinful humanity in due time?

The mention of Simon's sons suggests they were likely well-known among early Christians when Mark penned his Gospel. It is thought that one of them is the same Rufus to whom the Apostle Paul extends greetings in his Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16:13).

Later, under Augustus, crucifixion became a formal method of punishment for various insurrections and major criminals, those who transgressed the laws and order of the state. For the Jewish people, this form of execution was especially abhorrent since it was associated exclusively with pagan practices. While the Old Testament has references to ‘hanging on a tree,’ such instances typically involved a corpse or were rare occurrences permitted by some kings influenced by surrounding pagan customs. Crucifying a Jew would have ordinarily been unthinkable, as it would provoke outrage among the people. The insistent demand for the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth by the chief priests, Jewish leaders, and the crowd illustrates the extreme malice and animosity they had succumbed to, incited by the ruler of this world who sought to demonstrate the complete victory of darkness on earth.

As the execution commenced, soldiers crafted a cross and placed it on the shoulders of the condemned, initiating a dreadful procession outside the city to Golgotha, the place known for its distinctive shape. Following the condemned, a considerable crowd moved along, stirred by the prominence of the Prisoner and the events of His trial that had captivated many pilgrims. As they marched, the weight of the cross—bearing the sins of the entire world—overwhelmed Christ's bodily frame, worn down from prior spiritual and physical suffering, causing Him to fall under its weight. To maintain the momentum of the execution, the soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene, who happened to be passing by, to carry the cross, granting him the unique honor of assisting in the burden of atonement. The atmosphere surrounding this tragic procession was profoundly sorrowful, and numerous women, unable to endure its agony, wept bitterly. Jesus turned to them, urging them not to grieve for Him but for themselves and the impending tribulations facing the entire Jewish nation and the promised land. Alongside Him, two other criminals were also led to execution, and Pilate's decision to crucify them alongside Christ aimed to instill fear in other wrongdoers and to somewhat diminish the rampant theft that often escalated into political upheaval.