Sinclair B. Ferguson

Maybe you wouldn't have the job you have, or live where you do, or at least humanly speaking, even be married to the person who's your husband or wife.

I wonder if you can guess from that introduction who's on my mind today.

Well, think about these words from Mark chapter 15 verse 21.

Simon of Cyrene who was coming in from the country.

Most of us have to consult a reference book even to know where Cyrene was.

It's in what we call Libya.

And in our Lord's day, there was a large Jewish population there.

And it looks as though Simon was visiting for the Passover.

Jerusalem would have been crowded, and maybe he had found the Palestinian equivalent of an Airbnb somewhere out of town.

And there he is, casually, perhaps happily, making his way to the temple.

He was on holiday, because these were holy days.

And the rest is history.

But what if?

What if he had come half an hour, or perhaps just five minutes later, or earlier?

we would never have heard of Simon of Cyrene.

Five minutes later, and obliterated from Mark's gospel would be the words, and they, the Roman execution squad, compelled the passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, to carry the cross.

But if you know Mark's gospel, you might realize I've actually missed out some words from Mark's gospel.

And they're really amazing.

Mark says Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

What's so amazing about that?