Was Simon of Cyrene African?
The Holy Father offered a beautiful reflection on Simon of Cyrene, the man identified as an African in the Gospel accounts, who helped Jesus carry his cross on the way to his crucifixion.
What Scripture talks about carrying your cross?
In Luke 9:23, Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
What held Jesus to the cross?
Jesus stayed on the cross, held there by love. Love for us. And, as he hung there – as he endured the shame and agony – as he finally gave up his precious, perfect life, he accomplished that which we so desperately needed. Forgiveness and cleansing, salvation and an eternal dwelling place.
Who is Simon to Jesus?
James Tabor, in his controversial book The Jesus Dynasty, suggests that Simon was the son of Mary and Clophas. While Robert Eisenman suggests he was Simon Cephas (Simon the Rock), known in Greek as Peter (from petros “rock”), who led the Jewish Christian community after the death of James in 62 CE.
Why was Simon of Cyrene forced to carry the cross?
Weakened from the flogging, Jesus could no longer carry his cross by himself. Whether Simon felt any sympathy for Jesus or not, Roman soldiers forced him to help Jesus bear the weight of the cross the rest of the way.
Did Jesus say carry your cross?
Origin of To Carry Your Cross
Three of the Gospels mention Jesus saying, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He meant that people should follow in his ways in order to be good disciples.
What does it mean to pick up your cross daily?
It means to lay our “ego strength” aside. Taking up our cross means, instead, picking up those weaknesses that we so often try to run away from in life. Taking up our cross means carrying around those places where we are vulnerable, places where we are maybe even exposed to embarrassment and shame.
Where in the Bible does it say we all have a cross to bear?
I Cor. 10:13). The Lord never promised that we could pick our cross, but He promised to be there to help us bear it. The Lord is faithful!