Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
Luke 23.26:
As they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
Mark 15.21:
They compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander & Rufus, to carry his cross.
Simon of Cyrene (and his children) might be considered simply victims of circumstance. He had most likely come to Jerusalem for the Passover festivities and probably knew little about the proceedings at hand … and we know very little about Simon of Cyrene himself, since he is not mentioned in the Bible after he helped to carry the cross upon which Jesus would be nailed.
Ordered to help by the Roman soldiers, Simon did not resist, most likely fearing for his own life or the life of his sons in light of the situation at hand. Unlike Jesus, who carried His cross willingly, Simon was “compelled” or forced to carry it.
As Christians, we are to join Jesus in His suffering willingly, as Paul exhorts us, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” (2 Timothy 1.8)