| Spiritual Fiction posted September 7, 2021 | Chapters: |
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Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross for Jesus.
A chapter in the book Journey of Faith
Simon of Cyrene
by Mary Kay Bonfante
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
Mark 15:21
Additional background is provided in the Author Notes.Simon sat beside the fire with his beautiful granddaughter, Penelope. It was early fall, and there was a new chill in the air, but the fragrance of grapes in the vineyard wafted in, like a sweet perfume.
"It's late for you to be awake, the night before your wedding," said Simon.
"Grandpapa, I want to hear, one more time, about the day you met Our Lord Jesus," said Penelope, "And this time, please don't leave anything out."
"Are you sure you want to hear it all?" asked the kind, elderly man.
"Grandpapa! Why do you doubt me?" she asked. "You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings, would you?"
"Never in a million years, my Honey Bee," said Simon.
She smiled her winning smile, white teeth shining against her ruby red lips and olive skin, as her long, black braids brushed the sleeves of her night robe.
"So, tell me, then!" Penelope urged him.
Simon sat back, and gazed into the fire with his deep, brown eyes. The flames in the fire pit reflected against his brown skin, and made his white hair and beard glow in the dark.
"It was a confusing day for me. I had come in from the country, expecting to find your grandmother, your father Rufus and your Uncle Alexander at the usual inn just outside Jerusalem, preparing to come in for the Passover Feast. The innkeeper hadn't seen them, and it had already been a week since they should have arrived. I chastised myself for lingering at the farm, when I should have been more attentive to my family. I should have entrusted everything in Cyrene to the farmhands, and accompanied my dear Helen to Jerusalem.
"I had heard about the perplexing events that were taking place concerning a man named Jesus of Nazareth, and feared that perhaps my family had been caught up in something fanatical -- that's what I thought, at the time.
"So when I saw the large commotion in the heart of Jerusalem, I was afraid that Jesus was somehow involved. There was a tremendous crowd, an awful wailing of women, people shouting in various languages and a general sense of confusion. But I never thought it would come to that--such violence and bloodshed, all focused on one person.
"It was Jesus, all right. When I saw the condition of the poor man, I thought I was going to be sick. I was revolted, when I realized what they were doing to Him."
"Oh, Grandpapa. It must have been terrible for you."
"Not for me, my Sweet Honey Bee. No, it was Jesus who suffered that day. His face was covered in blood, Penelope, my child. His hair was matted with it, and He was carrying a gigantic, rough-hewn, ugly cross. I realized that it was for his own crucifixion. What a cruel instrument of death."
"Now I know you're telling me the whole story, Grandpapa. I am an adult; a woman."
"Yes, Penelope. This is the truth. His white robe had more blood stains than I could count. Where his body showed, it was raw from the lash of a whip, or streaked with dried blood.
"There was a peculiar contrivance on his head; which I later realized to be the infamous 'crown of thorns.' Whoever wove it together must have become bloody and bruised in the process, for it would have been impossible to do so, otherwise. It was wickedly devised, and its thorns had to have come from a godforsaken place in some abandoned, overgrown haunt of jackals.
"I must have looked like a criminal myself, with my large, perspiring, muscular frame standing idle, my mouth open in horror, my dark face ashen with fear. Maybe I appeared guilty.
"Suddenly one of the Roman centurions yelled harshly, 'You! Foreigner! Come over here and help the King of the Jews to carry his cross!'
"I stood rooted to my spot, in disbelief.
"'Do I have to drag you over here, you good-for-nothing swine?'
"I came running over, got behind Jesus, and picked up the back half of the cross. He was still stumbling so badly, that one of the centurions grabbed him roughly, and shunted him aside, allowing me to move forward, bearing the full weight of the cross on my broad shoulders. I'm still ashamed to admit it now, but I was loath to grab the cross with my bare hands, because it, too, was already stained with blood, and there was no way I would escape from this ordeal without getting the blood of Jesus on me, too. But this proved to be a blessing ... even as He struggled there on His road of suffering, the blood of Jesus had a power, like no other force on earth.
"Grandpapa," interrupted Penelope, "We all have the blood of Jesus on our hands, do we not?"
"Why yes, my Sweet Honey Bee, you speak the truth. 'We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.' (Isaiah 53:6 NIV)
"Yet there is a difference between our blood guilt, which put Jesus on the cross, and the blood applied, which takes effect for our forgiveness, when we acknowledge and confess the guilt of our sin. His sacrifice, as both the Perfect Lamb and our High Priest forever, sets us free from our penalty, our guilt and our enslavement to sin. As the Apostle John quoted Jesus, 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' (John 8:36 NIV)
"Okay, Grandpapa, my Nonno, please go on with the story."
"Of course, dear Penelope... Jesus was so weakened, He had fallen to the ground from the centurion's push, and I instinctively wanted to help Him up, but couldn't, while carrying the cross. Jesus looked up at me, as if He knew I wanted to help. We walked side by side, briefly.
"The cross dug into me, especially the weight of that center beam. Somehow, I could actually feel the blood on the cross with my hands and my face, as I pressed close against it, as though it were an energizing force, empowering me forward. The cross grew lighter, instead of heavier.
"Jesus looked me right in the eyes. 'Simon, your sins are forgiven.'
"I knew, from that moment, that I was a changed man. I didn't really know much about Jesus, but I knew He changed my heart, and that I was in the Presence of the Almighty. But why were we still in this gruesome parade of death?
"He was not in any position to do much explaining or preaching, on that agonizing road to Calvary. He just looked at me again and said, 'Your family is safe, and staying with your wife's cousin Abigail.'
"One of the Roman soldiers barked, 'No talking!' He cracked the whip at Jesus, without compassion, adding, 'Would you even make converts on the way to your execution?'
"'Who is this man?' I asked myself, as I carried His cross down that fateful road, but inside my heart, I knew."
"Yes, Carissimo Nonno, Grandpapa, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I will always believe in Him, unto death, and so will Marcus, my beloved fiance. We will pledge our love before Him tomorrow, in the presence of everyone we know."
"I know you will, my beloved Penelope."
"So how does it end, Grandpapa? As you remember it?"
"At some point, Jesus turned around, and looked at me in love, and even gratitude--I, an ordinary man! My heart swelled, because of the honor bestowed upon me, that I, a lowly farmer, should bear the cross behind Jesus. Of course, I didn't fully know the meaning and implications of what He was doing for us. At the same time, I was filled with pity and compassion for this powerful and amazing man, far beyond the capacity of us mortals, yet somehow limited, in this moment, to act on His own behalf. What was really going on here?
"Later I learned the words of John the Baptist, 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!' (John 1:29)
"Indeed, as it says in the Holy Scriptures, 'He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.' (Isaiah 53:7 NIV)
"Penelope, that's exactly the way it happened. And so we made our way to Golgotha, that horrible, ghastly place, outside Jerusalem--but yet, it was the place where my life and your life were redeemed by the blood of Jesus, that innocent Lamb of God!
"We came to the end of the road, and when we arrived, the Roman soldiers had no more use for me. 'Set the cross down on that hill!' commanded the centurion.
"With one final effort, I bore the cross of Jesus up the hill, and set it down. I gazed lovingly at this man who was sentenced to an excruciating death--Jesus, the One who had just freed me from sin, and set my life on a new course, from which there was no turning back. He gazed back at me one last time, through all the blood and pain, with more love than I ever thought existed in the whole universe.
"Suddenly one of the centurions grabbed my shoulder and gruffly commanded me, 'Get lost now! What's the matter? Did you want money?'
"'No, no, Sir -- no money,' I answered.
"'What did he do to him?' asked one of the other soldiers.
"'Just get rid of him,' said the first man.
"So I left quickly, and watched from a distance, with some other people, who turned out to be the disciples of Jesus. Thus began a long journey of faith for our family, and we have acquired many brothers and sisters along the way," concluded Simon.
"My beloved Marcus is one of them, and we take a new step of faith together, tomorrow," said his granddaughter.
"I will be by your side, dear Penelope, with your precious parents."
Penelope threw her arms around her grandfather Simon, and was careful not to knock him down, in her enthusiasm.
"I'll see you in the morning, Grandpapa."
"May Our Lord watch over you now and forever, my Honey Bee."
Biblical Inspiration contest entry
 Recognized |
#21 September 2021 |
For the full context of Mark 15:13, it's best to read Mark 15:1-41, which contains a substantial portion of the Passion of Jesus Christ (an account of his suffering and death).
MARK 15:1-41
1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
2 Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews"? He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"
5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
12 Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"
13 So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!"
14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.
17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,
18 and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.
24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."
29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"
31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save.
32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!"
36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"
40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Mark 15:1-41 NKJV
Centuries later, probably when the Roman Catholic Church was involved, the path believed to have been taken by Christ through Jerusalem was named the "Via Dolorosa."
Here is the beautiful song, La Via Dolorosa, performed by Sandi Patti:
MORE BACKGROUND AND INSIGHT
Before continuing on to the rest of the background, I would like to call the reader's attention to the joyful fact that these horrendous hours in the history of the world were not the end of the story. Three days later, Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and the story is found in all four Gospels, with plentiful references to this joyous event throughout the remainder of the New Testament. We believe His return (Second Coming) is close at hand.
Now on to the background of Simon the Cyrene, and the events of that day...
Simon the Cyrene, or Cyrenian, is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, but the most substantial reference is in the Gospel of Mark, as cited above, where it states that Simon is also the father of Alexander and Rufus. Cyrene is said to have been located in Libya.
Then Rufus is mentioned in Paul's Letter to the Romans; and if that's the same Rufus, it places him in Rome:
"Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too."
Romans 16:13 NIV
Simon the Cyrene, according to some sources, was said to be martyred in the year 100 A.D., and was made a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Other than Jesus of Nazareth, Simon the Cyrene, the centurions, and Simon's children Rufus and Alexander and Alexander's mother (presumably, Simon's wife, who is not named), the other characters in this story are fictional. The story revolves around the true events in the Gospels, but fictional details have been added for storytelling effect, and the circumstances where Simon tells the story to his granddaughter are entirely fictional.
The entire purpose of this scenario is to bring to life the encounter between Simon of Cyrene and Jesus Christ, and to imagine what that experience might have been like; as well as to remind the reader of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the details of which have been truthfully depicted, except for conversations with or pertaining to Simon, which are not recorded in the Bible.
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and 2 member cents. MARK 15:1-41
1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
2 Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews"? He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!"
5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
12 Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?"
13 So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!"
14 Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.
17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,
18 and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.
24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.
28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And He was numbered with the transgressors."
29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days,
30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"
31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save.
32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!"
36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"
40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Mark 15:1-41 NKJV
Centuries later, probably when the Roman Catholic Church was involved, the path believed to have been taken by Christ through Jerusalem was named the "Via Dolorosa."
Here is the beautiful song, La Via Dolorosa, performed by Sandi Patti:
MORE BACKGROUND AND INSIGHT
Before continuing on to the rest of the background, I would like to call the reader's attention to the joyful fact that these horrendous hours in the history of the world were not the end of the story. Three days later, Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and the story is found in all four Gospels, with plentiful references to this joyous event throughout the remainder of the New Testament. We believe His return (Second Coming) is close at hand.
Now on to the background of Simon the Cyrene, and the events of that day...
Simon the Cyrene, or Cyrenian, is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, but the most substantial reference is in the Gospel of Mark, as cited above, where it states that Simon is also the father of Alexander and Rufus. Cyrene is said to have been located in Libya.
Then Rufus is mentioned in Paul's Letter to the Romans; and if that's the same Rufus, it places him in Rome:
"Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too."
Romans 16:13 NIV
Simon the Cyrene, according to some sources, was said to be martyred in the year 100 A.D., and was made a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Other than Jesus of Nazareth, Simon the Cyrene, the centurions, and Simon's children Rufus and Alexander and Alexander's mother (presumably, Simon's wife, who is not named), the other characters in this story are fictional. The story revolves around the true events in the Gospels, but fictional details have been added for storytelling effect, and the circumstances where Simon tells the story to his granddaughter are entirely fictional.
The entire purpose of this scenario is to bring to life the encounter between Simon of Cyrene and Jesus Christ, and to imagine what that experience might have been like; as well as to remind the reader of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the details of which have been truthfully depicted, except for conversations with or pertaining to Simon, which are not recorded in the Bible.
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