Matthew 27:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

While suffering pertains to the flesh, the triumph belongs to the divine¹. Through His cross, Christ overcame death and the adversary. His crucifixion can be seen as an ascent into a glorious chariot². He appointed the four evangelists, akin to four chosen celestial steeds, to announce to all the world the grand victory of His triumph³. Simon of Cyrene bore the weight of this victorious cross, becoming a partaker in Christ's suffering so that he may also partake in the resurrection, as the apostle expresses: “If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11-12). Consequently, the Lord states in the Gospel, “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Lk. 14:27). The cross of Christ signifies our victory, for it has secured for us the path to triumph⁴. But who among us is truly blessed to have the honor of bearing the cross of Christ? To carry the cross of Christ is to die to worldly desires and to walk in companionship with Him. Observe how the apostle articulates this: “I have been crucified with Christ,” he declares, “and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:19-20). He who is detached from the vices of the flesh, as the apostle notes, and who refrains from the greed of this age, is truly crucified with Christ. Conversely, one who lives in the depravity of the flesh and the lusts of this world cannot claim, “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:19), for he resides not with Christ, but in the pleasures dictated by this world, swayed by the desires of the adversary. The cross of Christ is the means of salvation for the world and represents the victory from above. In ancient times, great rulers, upon returning from conquests, would erect trophies in the shape of a cross, displaying the spoils taken from their foes as lasting memorials of glory. However, the cross of Christ signifies an infinitely greater victory. The triumphs of those rulers were marked by the destruction of nations, the ruin of cities, and the looting of lands. Yet, the victory found in the cross offers redemption for entire nations, salvation for cities, liberation for lands, and security for the entire world⁵. Perhaps it spells doom solely for the devil, entrapping the demons, for through the cross of Christ, the world has been redeemed, and the forces of darkness subdued. Upon the cross of Christ hangs the spoil taken from the demons⁶, and still today, at the sign of the cross, the demons are tormented, afflicted, and consumed, made captives by the authority of the cross and the emblem of suffering⁷.

By bearing the cross, the redemptive sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb and the full essence of the law transitioned from the Jewish traditions to the Gentiles, from fleshly descendants to spiritual heirs. Therefore, the apostle declares, “Our Passover, Christ, was slain for us” (1 Cor. 5:7). He presented Himself to the Father as the new and authentic offering for reconciliation. His crucifixion did not occur in the temple, which had now lost its significance, nor within the doomed city walls, but outside the city - beyond the gates (Heb. 13:12). Thus, the former practices of sacrifice have ceased, and a new sacrifice is placed upon a new altar: the cross of Christ stands as the altar, not confined to the temple, but extending to all of creation.

He owned a house in Jerusalem, where other Jews from Cyrene also lived, and as recorded in the book of Acts, they had their own synagogue. Simon was returning from his field when the soldiers escorting Jesus encountered him. The soldiers seized him and compelled him to carry Jesus' cross. The context of Simon's return from the field suggests he had no involvement in the day's grim events. Given that the soldiers, amidst a crowd following Jesus, did not select anyone else, it is reasonable to conclude that Simon's selection was not random and might indicate he harbored sympathies towards Jesus. The Evangelist Mark further notes that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus, suggesting that during Mark's writing, these individuals were well-known Christians, enhancing Simon's notoriety. Thus, although Simon was coerced into bearing Jesus' cross, he did so willingly. Once Simon took up the cross, Jesus continued ahead, making it clear that the condemned one was Jesus, not Simon, preserving the humiliation of the cross for Christ. Beloved, does this not turn our focus towards our obligations? It is neither honorable nor righteous for us to align ourselves with Christ's enemies or to be part of the indifferent crowd on the way to Golgotha. We must distance ourselves from both groups and follow Jesus with sincerity and commitment.

The events surrounding Simon compel us to recognize our duty. Notice that the Lord leads Simon, burdened by the cross. Does this not signify His call for us to follow Him down the path of suffering? An ancient teacher remarks that while it was necessary for Christ to bear the cross, it is also essential for us to take up our own crosses, thereby fulfilling the compassionate call that leads to our salvation. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Jesus cannot truly be His disciple. Christ Jesus did not endure suffering to shield us from earthly trials; rather, His suffering empowers us to offer our own hardships to God when borne with a vibrant faith in Him, our Redeemer. While Simon relieved the weary Jesus by carrying the cross, the work of redemption was ultimately accomplished by Christ on Calvary. Similarly, when Christians face life's tribulations with patience, they honor the Lord Jesus as they share in His burdens and express their love for Him. The Heavenly Father views with affection those who follow Christ. How can a believer decline to accept suffering when such trials refine our spirit and eliminate sin from our hearts? If Simon did not willingly accept the cross of Jesus, it is understandable. The glory associated with Christ’s cross emerged with the exaltation of Jesus after His crucifixion. Yet how can we turn away from the cross of Christ when we acknowledge that His glorification came through enduring it, and many Saints attained eternal glory for partaking in His sufferings? Who are those attired in white robes, where have they come from? These are they who emerged from the great tribulation. Do we not recognize that all worldly accolades are fleeting, and only the glory bestowed by the friends of the cross of Christ remains enduring and majestic? Simon, a humble Jew and simple farmer, has gained lasting renown for bearing the cross of Jesus. His name has endured through the ages, spoken with respect across the globe by all ranks of society. However, what awaits those who seek to remove the cross of Christ from their lives? With sorrow, St. Paul expressed that the adversaries of the cross of Christ face destruction, as their focus lies in worldly desires and their glory is in their shame. If we have yet to find the courage to willingly embrace the cross, let us at least refrain from fleeing from the trials Providence has assigned to us. It is unbecoming for a Christian to resist following the suffering Savior of Golgotha. In doing so, one may express discontent with Divine Providence, which determines our share of hardship, dishonor, illness, or loss, and in doing so, they divert from the call to repentance amid distress. They may recognize that the wide path, once filled with joy, ultimately leads to ruin, and they see that the earthly treasures they pursued have only contributed to the demise of their souls. Yet they perceive the will of God, which offers salvation, as burdensome and seek to return to their former paths of ease. O Lord Jesus, help us to cherish Your cross, which brings us salvation. Amen.

To avoid any misunderstanding among those who saw Simon with the cross, the soldiers directed Jesus to walk ahead of him, ensuring that all the disgrace of the crucifixion remained with the Lord. Quietly, the Lord complied, moving forward "like a lamb led to the slaughter."

The crowd was filled with sorrowful cries, particularly from the women of Jerusalem, stirred by His anguish and humiliation. These women could have been the mothers of the children who had joyously shouted hosanna just days earlier, or they might have been the mothers of the little ones whom the Lord had graciously blessed. The compassionate Savior, who promised to remember even the smallest act of kindness done for Him, and who shed tears at the tomb of His friend out of empathy for human suffering, embraced these expressions of sympathy directed toward Him. He turned to the mournful women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children; for the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'"

It is difficult to conceive the excitement and triumph of the chief priests and elders of the Jews when they finally heard from Pilate the words they longed to hear: "Go, soldier, prepare the cross!" Both the Jews and Romans were governed by a law that required a condemned criminal to await execution for several days after the death sentence, allowing a herald to announce the verdict and invite any defense. However, for our Lord, there was no such mercy; He was immediately delivered to the soldiers for crucifixion.

Additionally, the Evangelist Mark enriches the narrative by noting that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21). Mark’s mention of Simon's sons suggests that they were fairly prominent within the early Christian community at the time his Gospel was penned. It is believed that one of them, Rufus, is the same individual to whom the Apostle Paul extended greetings in his Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16:13).

To avoid delaying the execution, the soldiers compelled Simon of Cyrene, who happened upon the scene, to carry the cross, granting him the profound privilege of sharing in this act of atonement. The sight of this agonizing procession was deeply distressing, prompting many women to weep inconsolably. Jesus acknowledged their grief and urged them not to weep for Him, but for themselves and for the tribulations that lay ahead for Jerusalem and its people. Alongside Christ, two thieves were also led to their fate; Pilate sought to instill fear in other criminals by executing these men, hoping to quell the rampant brigandage that often resulted in insurrections. Upon arrival at the execution site, the three crosses were laid on the ground, with Jesus' cross positioned centrally for mockery. Stripped of His garments, the most harrowing moment of the execution occurred as He was nailed to the cross. With His arms extended on the crossbeam, a large iron nail pierced through His palms, affixed to the wood with hammer blows. A similar nail was driven through His feet, and the soldiers strained to lift the cross, setting it into the prepared hole, bearing the living weight of Christ. In this moment of excruciating suffering, the Savior's voice rose in a plea for forgiveness for His merciless executioners: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). The agony He endured was unimaginable, compounded by the reality that victims could linger on the cross for an agonizingly long time, often pleading for their deaths as a means of escape. This was the death Christ faced; although it was mercifully expedited by the trials He had previously endured, He remained on the cross from noon until nearly sunset, when He finally "gave up the spirit."

Typically, those condemned to crucifixion would carry their own crosses to the execution site, and initially, Jesus did so. However, after enduring the brutal scourging and the beatings inflicted by the Roman soldiers in the Praetorium, He likely became too weakened to continue, resulting in Simon of Cyrene taking up the cross on His behalf.