Simon of Cyrene
In the 5th Station of the Cross: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross in a sculpture in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dennis Jarvis, Halifax, Canada/Wikimedia Commons Photo, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license).
Editor's note: In searching for art to illustrate this text, only one depiction of Simon of Cyrene could be found in which the figure has African-seeming bodily features (see above photo). In all other public domain Christian artwork on two websites, Simon is shown as a light-skinned man despite his description as an African. Several copyrighted contemporary icons show Simon as a dark-skinned man.
In this text, Luke 23:26-31, we read about groups of people who are suffering with Jesus on his way to Calvary. These people are not known, they are at the bottom of the society’s ladder.
First is Simon of Cyrene: This man is believed to had came from Africa to worship in the temple in Jerusalem, most likely an African Jew. Simon is picked in the crowd to carry Jesus’ cross by force just like Jesus was being forced to carry the cross on which he was going to be crucified. Simon is chosen because he looked different from everyone else, he was an African and black. The act of picking on Simon of Cyrene was purely a racist action. This black man is targeted for being black and looking different. Forcing him to carry Jesus Christ’s cross was an act of humiliation, mocking, and degrading. His crime was being an African and looking different. He had not committed any crime, just like Jesus himself whom the crowd was also mocking.
Similar incidences happen to people of color in many situations. We have, in the USA, situations of black men who are beaten, shot and killed just for being black. Even though today we look at Simon of Cyrene with respect and admiration, not many preachers preach the story of Simon of Cyrene as part of humanity’s salvation story. He is usually forgotten, maybe because he was an African man. Overall we do not hear many good stories from Africa being preached about.
Do we do justice to the story of the cross when we tell it without Simon of Cyrene, the only other person besides Jesus himself to carry that cross of salvation?
The second group is made up of women who are mourning for Jesus. This is a group that is affirming their love for Jesus at a time when the majority were mocking, beating, and pushing Jesus towards execution.
At this hour in time, all of Jesus’ male disciples had run away and abandoned their master, but we see a group of women who are affirming their love for Christ. When others had disaffiliated from Christ and left him, there were brave women who could not leave him despite the dangers of being known as his follower. We also learn that Jesus could not resist their love for him. In the midst of suffering Jesus took time to address them. Jesus acknowledged and affirmed them as his most faithful followers during his journey to the crucifixion.
These two examples show us who is usually there when the church is going through trying times. Those with power, authority, and control were focused on protecting their positions of power and influence which led to the accusation, trial, and sentencing of Jesus to death.
There were those of insignificant relevance who stepped into the suffering shoes of Jesus. As we journey in this season in our church of divisions, misinformation, bad mouthing the ministry of the United Methodist Church by people who have influence, power, and control. We believe God will raise more people like Simon of Cyrene to step up and help Jesus carry the cross towards calvary.
As I read the news and follow social media posts I read about women who are weeping and wailing as they experience the pain of seeing their churches being ripped apart, being broken into pieces, and snatched away from them by the disaffiliation votes. There are stories of some who have gathered courage and started new congregations. May we also learn from these stories, take courage, and build the church we seek together.
Nyarota 2
The Rev. Lloyd T. Nyarota
The Rev. Lloyd Tichaenda Nyarota is an ordained eder in the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Currently he lives in Canada as spouse of the Rev. Tazvionepi Nyarota, a General Board of Global Ministries missionary, where he is serving an ecumenical appointment with The United Church of Canada on a shared ministry appointment at St. John's United Anglican Church in Northern Alberta. This post is republished from the Methodist Federal for Social Action newsletter and website.