Simon
was in Jerusalem for Passover. He traveled a long way to fulfill
lifetime dream but things did not turn out the way he expected. “And
they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the
country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear [Jesus'] cross.”
(Mark
15:21)
Jesus
was exhausted and the soldiers had the right to compel anyone to
carry a load for a mile. Simon just happened to be in the right place
at the right time. God had a divine appointment with Simon that day.
Simon's
divine appointment had an eternal impact. Until
that moment Simon had just been a nameless bystander but, once he
carried Christ’s cross, his life changed. We can never encounter
the cross and remain unchanged. If we accept Christ, we are
transformed, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation
has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2
Corinthians 5:17)
Simon
of Cyrene's encounter with Jesus transformed him and his family. Mark
names Simon's sons, Alexander and Rufus, because they were known to
early readers of his gospel. Paul gives a shout out to Rufus in his
letter to the Romans, “Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his
mother and mine.” (Romans
16:13)
Simon
took the Gospel back to Cyrene where he led both his family and the
Jewish community to Christ. Lucius
of Cyrene was one of the founders of the church in Antioch. (Acts
13:1)
Like
Simon, you might encounter God unexpectedly. Most things we long for
never happen but the greatest joys can come unexpectedly and,
sometimes, disguised as hardship.
When
Simon took up the cross, he left a legacy for the church. Simon
was changed forever by one simple act. Join Simon in carrying the
cross of Christ.
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