Via Dolorosa

The soldiers, after mocking Jesus, removed the purple robe, and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him outside to crucify Him. The crucifixion was a form of public humiliation and execution. In those days, when someone was sentenced to death, they were required to carry their own cross to the place of execution. The horizontal beam of the cross was placed on outstretched arms and tied with ropes for the procession. The path from Caiaphas’ residence to the Hill of Calvary, about 700 meters long (about half a mile), is known as the Via Dolorosa (the Way of Sorrows). Normally, the flogging would occur at the execution site, but in Jesus’ case, Pilate attempted to release Him after the flogging, so it took place before reaching the execution site. The whip caused extensive bleeding in Jesus’ body. By this point, Jesus was no longer in a condition to carry the heavy cross to the execution site. Witnessing this, a Roman soldier compelled a passerby to carry Jesus’ cross.

Simon of Cyrene

The man named Simon, from Cyrene (a coastal city in North Africa), was a Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover, like many Jews from around the world. (1) Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. (2) Moreover, he is believed to be the same person as “Simeon called Niger” who later became one of the leaders in the Antioch church (Acts 13:1). In any case, Simon of Cyrene became a well-known figure in the early church. It all began with being forced to carry the cross. He was forced to do so by Roman soldiers, but at the same time, it was a divine providence and an unparalleled privilege. He carried the crossbeam to the hill of Calvary, witnessed the scene where Jesus was crucified, and heard Jesus pray for the forgiveness of those crucifying Him. It is likely that Simon, hearing Jesus’ prayers, gained the conviction that this man was indeed the Messiah. The suffering experienced by Simon was ultimately transformed into joy. Those who believe in Christ will also experience the transformation of suffering into joy. Let us learn to joyfully carry our crosses.