Mark 15:21 "And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross."

I think I was like most people for years who read this but didn't really read it. Let me explain. I believe that this verse is full of information and deep in meaning. For example, Simon was a Cyrenian. 

Cyrene was a Greek city in the province of Cyrenaica, in eastern Libya, in northern Africa. It had a Jewish community, where 100,000 Judean Jews settled during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC), and was an early center of Christianity.

The Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for annual feasts. This is why Simon was there with his sons. Cyrene to Jerusalem by land was 783 miles.  Walking ~4 miles per hour for 8 hours a day, it would have taken 32 days to make the journey to arrive in the holy city for Passover.

At the moment he comes in contact with Yeshua and the blood on the cross he would be deemed to be ceremonially unclean and no longer able to participate in Passover.  There wouldn't be time to perform the ceremonies to become clean.

Being unable to participate in Passover carried a huge burden.  In a culture and religion where adherence to the the law and participation in the feasts was paramount to salvation, his inability to participate would be carried with him through the entire following year and possibly forever.  There was no “make-up” date for Passover.

I have a strong belief that something happened in the time frame of Him carrying the cross of Yeshua. We really don't hear much more about him but the influence or change that happen extended to his family. The fact that Mark's Gospel specifically names Alexander and Rufus suggests that they were figures of some prominence or familiarity to the Gospel's original audience.

Romans 16:13  "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." This Book was written to Romans, and Paul suggested that they knew who these people were. 

Paul's letter to the Romans further supports the idea that this family was active in the early Christian movement. Rufus's designation as "chosen in the Lord" implies a recognized faith and possibly a leadership role within the church. The affectionate reference to his mother as a maternal figure to Paul highlights the close-knit and supportive nature of the early Christian communities.

There's no more mention of Alexander in the New Testament but just by his name being mentioned in the Gospel of Mark might mean that he was in the early Church. I did find it interesting that his name means "Defender of Men".

While writing this, one thought that comes to mind. The work for the fruit that you sew may not be for you to take. It may lay grounds for others to get strength to go farther then you could ever imagine.  



Humbly by : Pastor Billy Chavis

Edited by Angel Chavis