S I M O N O F C Y R E N E

A Devotional Look at the Man Who Carried the

Cross of Jesus

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without

permission of the author.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
Chapter 1- What’s in a Name?
Chapter 2 - Compelled to Follow Jesus
Chapter 3- Carrying the Cross
Chapter 4- He Has Heard
Chapter 5- Handing Over the Cross
About The Author

PREFACE

imon of Cyrene is an obscure Bible character who had a

tremendous role to play at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Three out of four gospels mention his name and the fact that he

carried the cross of Jesus, but there is very little else known about him.

Hidden in the few verses of Scripture that mention his name are some

interesting details about the work Jesus carried out that day. Simon’s role

was not only to minister to the Lord Jesus by carrying his cross but also to

show us something about the work Christ accomplished on our behalf.

The goal of this short study on the person of Simon of Cyrene is to see his

significance in revealing Christ and His ministry. May the Lord be pleased

to bless this work for the glory of His name.

God bless,

F. Wayne Mac Leod

CHAPTER 1- WHAT’S IN A

NAME?

e read about Simon of Cyrene in three out of the four Gospels.

[32] As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene,

Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.

(Matthew 27)

[21] And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was

coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus,

to carry his cross. (Mark 15)

[26] And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of

Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him

the cross, to carry it behind Jesus (Luke 23)

Everything we know about this obscure character is found in these three

verses. Our task is to examine what these verses tell us to see what we can

discover about Simon and the role he played during the crucifixion of Jesus.

Let’s begin with his name.

Simon

It is generally believed that the name Simon is of Hebrew origin. It is

derived from the name Shim’on which means “he has heard.” The first

reference to the name Simon is found in Genesis 29:33. He was the son of

Abraham through his wife, Leah:

[33] She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD

has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called

his name Simeon. (Genesis 29)

Leah named her child Simeon because God had heard her prayer for a child

and knew that she was unloved.

According to Wikipedia, it was one of the most popular Jewish names in the

first century among Palestinian Jews

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_(given_name).

What this tells us about Simon of Cyrene is that he had a Hebrew name. In

our day, we use names from different origins. This was not so much the

case in the days in which Simon lived. In those days, it was relatively easy

to determine the nationality of a person by the name he or she bore. It is

likely that Simon then was of Jewish ancestry.

Of Cyrene

Simon is never referred to in Scripture by his first name alone. He is always

called Simon of Cyrene or Simon from the region of Cyrene.

Cyrene was located on the North coast of Africa in the current day country

of Libya. It was founded by the Greeks in the 7th Century BC and was of

some agricultural significance in the day. It would eventually become part

of the Roman Empire. By the New Testament period, the city of Cyrene

contained a large population of Jews. (Philip W. Comfort, Ph.D., Walter A.

Elwell, Ph.D. (ed), “Cyrene,” Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Electronic Edition,

L A R I D I A N: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 2001). It is possible that some of

these Jews from Cyrene came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover in the

days when Jesus was crucified.

While his name indicates that Simon originally came from Cyrene, is

unclear from Scripture if he had just come to Jerusalem for the Passover or

if he had moved from Cyrene to live in the region. Mark tells us that Simon

of Cyrene was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

[21] And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was

coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus,

to carry his cross. (Mark 15)

Mark 15 describes Simon as a “passerby” who was from Cyrene. The way

Mark speaks about Simon seems to indicate that he was not a well-known

individual at that time. He was a passerby to many who saw him that day.

He was also a foreigner who had not grown up in Jerusalem.

While Mark feels compelled to explain who Simon was, this is not the case

for his sons. They are referred to by their first names, Alexander and Rufus.

Mark identifies Simon through his sons, who appear to be more well

known.

We have a reference in Acts 19:33 to a Jewish leader by the name of

Alexander, who was called to defend the Jews in a time of uproar in

Ephesus. Paul sent greetings to a man by the name of Rufus and his mother

in Romans 16:13. While is it difficult to say if these men were the sons of

Simon of Cyrene, the passage seems to imply at least that Simon’s sons

were known in the community at the time.

The fact that people seemed to know Simon’s sons causes us to wonder how

this could be the case if they did not live in the region of Jerusalem. Could

it be that Simon moved to the area with his family from Cyrene? We do not

have a clear answer to this question.

What we learn about Simon in these verses is that he was likely a Jew who

had lived in Cyrene in North Africa. He had two sons who seem to be

known in Jerusalem. While we do not know if he as living permanently in

the region or just visiting, he was present during the days of Christ’s

crucifixion. It was this relatively obscure individual that would be chosen

by God to carry the cross of the Lord Jesus on the way to Calvary.

For Consideration:

What does Simon’s name teach us about him and his background?

Consider the fact that a Jew from current-day Libya was chosen to carry the

cross of Jesus. We have no indication of Simon knowing Jesus. What does

this tell us about the kind of people God chooses for His purpose?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He reaches out to the most unlikely people and uses

them for His purpose. Thank Him for how He has chosen you to be His

child. Ask Him to give you a sense of His purpose for your life.

God uses people in different ways. He chose Simon to bear a heavy burden

for the Lord Jesus. Are you willing to bear the responsibility God has given

you? Will you take up your cross to follow Him as Simon did?

CHAPTER 2 - COMPELLED

TO FOLLOW JESUS

wo of the gospels tell us that, on the occasion of the crucifixion of

Jesus, Simon was “coming in from the country” (Mark 15:21;

Luke 23). The Greek word used for “country” in these verses is the

word “agros” which refers to a field or a piece of cultivated land.

The Bible does not tell us why Simon was in the countryside. Did he live

there? Was he working in the fields? Was he returning from the country to a

home in the city? We do not know. Mark describes Simon, however, as a

“passerby.” This word may give us a better understanding of Simon.

Consider what was happening at the time that Simon was coming out of the

countryside into the city of Jerusalem. The Roman soldiers had mocked and

beaten Jesus. Now they were leading Him down the streets of the Jerusalem

to the hill of Calvary. People stood at the side of the road, watching this

procession. All eyes were focused on Jesus as He carried His cross on the

way to the execution.

It is in this context that we read in Mark 15:21, “And they compelled a

passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country… to carry

his cross.” Simon is a passerby. In other words, it was not his purpose to

watch what was going on. He was on his way to something else, and this

procession was a mere distraction in his routine. As a passerby, he had not

come to see the Lord go to the cross. He may not have been particularly

interested in what was happening that day. He had other things to do.

While Simon had other things on his mind that day, God had a purpose for

his day. In John’s account of the procession to Calvary, he tells us that Jesus

bore his own cross:

[17] and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called

The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

(John 19)

From the other Gospels, we see that the soldiers found Simon of Cyrene

and compelled him to carry the cross of Jesus. There is no contradiction

here. Jesus began by carrying His cross, but because He was weak from the

beating the soldiers had given him, was unable to continue.

Seeing that Jesus was unable to carry His cross, the soldiers went out

among the crowd in search of a man who could bear it for him. Simon, who

was passing by at that time, was the man they chose. The words used to

describe the encounter between Simon and the Roman soldiers are

significant. Matthew and Mark both tell us that they “compelled” Simon to

carry the cross of Jesus (ESV). Luke says that they “seized” Simon and laid

the cross on him.

The soldiers were not looking for a volunteer to carry the cross for Jesus.

They forced Simon to change his plans and pick up that cross. The idea is

that if he did not listen to what they told him to do, there would be

repercussions. Simon did not choose to carry the cross of Jesus. The cross

was chosen for him.

Here before us, we have a picture of a man who is going about his normal

routine. He had no interest in the Lord Jesus and what was happening to

Him. Jesus was a stranger to him. God, however, had a plan for Simon. The

timing of his visit to Jerusalem was perfect. He was at the right place at that

right time. The decision to find someone to carry the cross for Jesus seemed

to be unplanned. As Jesus struggled and stumbled with the cross, the

soldiers in charge made a spur of the moment decision to get someone to

carry it for Him. Going out into the crowd, they saw Simon. They seized

him and put that cross on his back.

None of this was by coincidence. Behind this act of compassion toward

Jesus was the hand of the Father. God knew before Simon left the

countryside what was in store for him. He chose him to carry the cross for

His Son. Simon was completely unaware of this as he left for the city. The

soldiers were ignorant of God’s leading as they went into the crowd to find

a man to bear the cross to Calvary.

Simon was going about his regular duty. He had no interest in Jesus. He

was passing by when his routine was interrupted. While to all human

appearance, his plans were interrupted by Roman soldiers, there was

something more than met the eye taking place. God was reaching out to

Simon.

The Lord Jesus, speaking in John 15, said:

[16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you

that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should

abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may

give it to you. (John 15)

Writing to the Colossians, the apostle Paul said:

[2:1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in

which you once walked, following the course of this world,

following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is

now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we

all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the

desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children

of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in

mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5]

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive

together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—

(Colossians 2)

Just as those soldiers compelled Simon to take up the cross and follow

Jesus, so the Spirit of God continues to compel those who have no interest

in Christ to follow Him today. The apostle Paul was on his way to

Damascus to persecute those who followed the way of Christ when he met

the Saviour. That day, the Lord compelled him to surrender, pick up his

cross and follow him. Paul would never be the same again.

Simon plan for the day was changed. He was a disinterested person who

met the Saviour on his way into the city of Jerusalem. This was not

something he chose for himself. If it were up to him, he would have

continued his way without hardly looking in Jesus’ direction. That was not

the purpose of God for him, however. God met Simon in his indifference

and made him part of one of the greatest events in human history.

Simon is a picture of you and me. We go through life hardly considering the

Lord Jesus and the work He did. Like Simon passing by the Lord Jesus on

the way to the cross, we too pass by without recognizing the significance of

what took place that day. It is as if the crucifixion had nothing to do with us.

Were it not for the work of God in compelling us to consider the cross; we

would have continued our way without any understanding that the Saviour

was going to that cross for us.

How many people around us are like Simon—indifferent to the Saviour and

the cross He bore? How we need to thank the Lord that He meets us in our

indifference. Simon is a picture of the grace of God in compelling the

unbeliever to pick up their cross and follow Jesus.

For Consideration:

What evidence do we have that Simon was not particularly interested in the

crucifixion of the Lord Jesus?

Does God compel us to pick up our cross and follow Him? If God did not

compel us, would we have a chance of knowing Christ?

How is Simon a picture of the grace of God in revealing Himself to those

who have no desire for Him?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He reached out to us when we were

not interested in Him.

Thank the Lord for how He orchestrated the events and circumstances that

brought you to Himself.

Do you have friends or relatives who, like Simon, have no interest in the

Lord and His work? Ask the Lord to reach out to them and compel them to

look to Him.

CHAPTER 3- CARRYING

THE CROSS

atthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that the soldiers “compelled”

Simon to bear the cross of Jesus. While it is not clearly

described here, historically, because the entire cross was so

heavy, the condemned person would carry only the crossbeam to the site of

the crucifixion.

In some cases, the condemned was forced to carry the

crossbeam to the place of execution. A whole cross would

weigh well over 135 kg (300 lb), but the crossbeam would not

be as burdensome, weighing around 45 kg

(100 lb). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion)

Since the weight of the entire cross was probably well over 300

lb. (136 kg), only the crossbar was carried. The crossbar,

weighing 75 to 125 lb. (34 to 57 kg), was placed across the

nape of the victim’s neck and balanced along both shoulders.

Usually, the outstretched arms then were tied to the crossbar.

(https://www.cbcg.org/scourging-crucifixion.html)

It would have been humiliating for the criminal to carry the cross on which

he was to be crucified through the streets to the location of his death. The

intention was to make the victim feel his defeat and helplessness. This only

added to the cruelty and agony of the crucifixion.

John 19:17 tells us that as Jesus began the journey to Golgotha, He carried

the cross. At some point in this journey, however, it was placed on the

shoulders of Simon of Cyrene who took it the rest of the way.

When it came to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, nothing was left by

chance. Every detail is of utmost significance. I believe that the Lord had a

purpose of Simon. He was God’s choice to carry the cross of Jesus the rest

of the way. It is essential that we understand what is happening here.

While the soldiers did tie the cross to the Lord Jesus, it was Simon who

would bring it to Calvary. This detail cannot go unnoticed. It was the guilty

person who carried the cross. The guilty person, however, was not the Lord

Jesus –it was Simon. Simon was the one who needed forgiveness.

Simon was not the only guilty person. He represented all of humanity.

Remember that Simon was likely a Jew. He was also from the foreign land

of Cyrene in Africa. Simon represented both the Jews and the foreigners of

Africa and beyond. He represented you and me.

That day as Simon carried the cross of Jesus, the Father was telling the

world that His Son was not the guilty party. The one who bore the cross was

the one who needed to die. Simon carried that cross as a representative of

Jews and foreigners. As the crowds looked at Simon, weighted down with

the cross, they saw a picture of themselves. In that picture, they saw a

sinful man bearing the burden of his sin. They saw the condemnation of

God on humanity. God was showing them that they were the ones who

deserved to carry this cross and bear its punishment.

Luke tells us that the cross was laid on Simon, and he was forced to carry it

behind Jesus.

[26] And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of

Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him

the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23)

Jesus led Simon to the place of execution. In doing so, the Father was

showing us what we deserved. The penalty for sin is death. As Simon

followed the Lord Jesus to Golgotha, he was experiencing first-hand what it

was like to be sentenced to death. He must have felt something of the pain

of Jesus as He prepared to lay Himself down on that cross.

The message of the gospel has sometimes been watered down to a point

where the reality of sin and judgement is downplayed. We don’t like to tell

people they are sinners deserving the wrath of God. The gospel we preach

is a gospel of blessing and prosperity. We tell people to come to Christ and

experience the good life. While we dare not question the wonderful benefits

that are ours in the Lord Jesus, the reality of our guilt must never be

ignored.

Until we understand our guilt, we will never grasp the fullness of the grace

of Christ. We pause the scene for just a moment at the place where Simon is

being led by Christ to the location of execution. The frame before us is one

of Simon bearing the cross. He represents us all. Both Jew and foreigner

were guilty before God. We deserved that cross. We stand on Golgotha’s

hill with the weight of that burden on our shoulders understanding full well

the judgement of God on our lives.

Have we identified with the death of Christ? Do we grasp the fact we

deserved that cross? Do we understand the shame that was ours and the

price we should have paid? Have we felt the weight of that cross beam on

our shoulders? How easy it is for us to take our salvation for granted. May

God give us a deeper understanding of our sin so that His grace may be

magnified.

For Consideration:

Why do you suppose God saw fit to call Simon to carry the cross of Jesus?

How is he a picture of you and me?

How important is it for us to understand our sin and guilt before God? Has

the church been faithful in preaching about sin?

Can we truly appreciate the grace of Christ if we do not understand our

guilt?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you a deeper appreciation of what He did for you in

taking your place on the cross.

Ask God to give us as believers a greater awareness of sin and its effect on

our lives.

CHAPTER 4- HE HAS

HEARD

n chapter 1, we spoke about the name Simon. The name is of Hebrew

origin and is derived from the word which means “to hear.” The word

from which the name originates is defined as follows:

עַמָׁש

šāma

, shaw-mah'; to hear intelligently (often with

implication of attention). (Strong James, S.T.D, LL.D., A

Concise Dictionary of the words in the Hebrew Bible; with their

renderings in the Authorized English Version, L A R I D I A N:

The idea is that the person who listens does so with the intention of doing

something about what he or she hears. This hearing is not just about

understanding words but about relieving pain and suffering or responding to

the needs revealed in the words spoken.

When Leah gave her son the name Simeon, she did so in recognition that

the Lord God had heard she was unloved. In Leah’s mind, when God gave

her a son, He was doing so because He heard her need and reached out in

compassion and mercy to address her pain.

Why is it essential that we consider the meaning and origin of Simon’s

name in this context? Let’s pause the scene again and examine what is

happening. Here before us is a man by the name of Simon. His name

means, “he has heard.” This man is carrying the cross of Jesus as they move

slowly toward the place of execution.

To all outward appearance, this is a picture of defeat. Jesus is about to die at

the hands of Roman soldiers. The population of Jerusalem has largely

rejected the message He came to preach. The religious leaders turned their

back on Him and His claim to be the Messiah. They were responsible for

His sentence of death. They stood by now rejoicing in what they saw as His

ultimate defeat.

Unseen to the Jewish population and Roman officials, however, was a

powerful sign from God. As Jesus made His way to the cross, he was

followed by a man whose name meant, “he has heard.” Consider this for a

moment. What was perceived by the human eye to be utter defeat was, in

reality, God’s way of telling the world that He had heard their cries. He

understood their need. As Simon, who represented the Jewish and foreign

nations of the day followed Jesus to the cross, the Father was saying, “I

understand your need, and I have heard.”

The word from which Simon’s name was derived spoke not just about

hearing with the ear but also responding with compassion and mercy. The

words, “he has heard” point us directly to Jesus. He was the response of the

Father. The cries of the lost reached the ears of the Father, and in response,

He gave His only Son to be the answer to the pain and lostness of the world.

To the Jews, Jesus was crucified because He declared Himself to be God.

To the Romans, it was because He was a troublemaker. To the Father,

however, it was because He had heard the cries of humanity lost in sin.

As Simon carried the cross, he was making a statement about Jesus. “He

has heard our cry,” he declared. This Jesus that goes before me understands

your need and has come to do something about it. He is going to die, not

because of anything that He has done but because He wants to provide a

solution to our separation from God. He comes to bring forgiveness and

restoration. He comes to bring cleansing and healing. He comes because He

has heard our cries of despair.

I don’t think that Simon understood the significance of his name as he

followed the Lord Jesus to Golgotha. I don’t believe the crowds took notice

either. There before them, however, was the word of the Lord to all who

would take a moment to consider it.

In what appeared to be a time of great tragedy, the silent word spoke. The

Father quietly declared His intention. In speaking through the name of

Simon, the Father showed that He was still sovereign over the affairs of that

day. The Romans were not in control. Silently working through what

appeared to be a tragic end, was the hand of the Father, accomplishing His

purpose.

As Jesus moved slowly toward the place where He would lay down His life,

He brought Simon with Him. Simon, unknown to himself, spoke the

prophetic word of God: “He has heard.” The father has heard, and this is the

result. He has sent His Son to lay down His life as a perfect Lamb of God

for the forgiveness of our sin. By selecting Simon to follow after His Son,

the Father was declaring that He had a purpose in what He was doing.

Through the work of His Son, the answer to generations of prayers would

be revealed.

For Consideration:

What does the name Simon mean? Why is it important in this context?

Not many people present that day would have understood the symbolism in

the name of Simon. Why do you suppose God speaks silently in this way?

Do you think we often miss what God is saying?

How did the word of God spoken through the name of Simon reveal that He

was still in control of a situation that appeared to human eyes to be utter

defeat?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is in control of even what appears to be a tragedy in

your life. Thank Him for the encouragement He brings to you in your need.

Thank the Lord that He does hear our cries and will respond in His way and

time.

Ask God to open your eyes and ears to the encouragement He brings. Ask

Him to give you eyes to see what He is doing in your situation.

CHAPTER 5- HANDING

OVER THE CROSS

e have seen how Simon of Cyrene represented the Jew and the

foreigner. In this capacity, he carried the cross revealing to all

that we were the guilty ones who deserved to die for our

rebellion against the Lord Jesus, the Son of God.

Luke 23:26 tells us that as Simon walked that road to the place of

execution, he carried the cross “behind Jesus.” Let’s pause for a moment

and consider what must have been going through Simon’s mind. He was

carrying a cross on the way to Golgotha. Under normal circumstances, this

would have been a tremendously difficult thing to do. Many of those who

carried the cross bore a tremendous emotional weight. This cross was a

symbol of death and suffering to come. It was the end of life for the guilty

criminal. As they looked ahead, the condemned were fully aware of their

crimes and the terror of what lay before them. They would be lifted up for

all to see. They would suffer great agony until their life faded away. People

would mock and insulted them as they hung dying on that cruel cross. They

were reduced to helplessness and despair in a very public way. The cross

was designed to induce maximum discomfort and shame.

Let’s return to Simon of Cyrene. While carrying the cross was a very

solemn matter for him, there was something very different in his case. He

would not die on the cross he bore. This cross was for Jesus. The pain and

agony would be born by the man who was leading him to Golgotha. Simon

knew that when they arrived at Calvary, he would hand that cross over to

the Lord Jesus.

Simon of Cyrene is a powerful symbol of what took place at the cross of

Jesus. As a representative of both Jew and foreigner, Simon bore the cross

of Jesus. While earthly officials had judged Jesus guilty, the Father also

revealed His judgement that day. He had Simon bear the weight of the cross

to Calvary. He showed those present that they were the guilty ones, not

Jesus.

Simon does much more than reveal the judgement of God, however, he also

shows the mercy and compassion of God in the Lord Jesus, His Son. When

Simon arrived at Golgotha, he handed the cross over to Jesus. Jesus

willingly laid His body on that cross for Simon as a representative of both

Jew and foreigner. The death of Jesus was on our behalf. He paid the

penalty that we should have paid.

A grand ceremony took place that day. As our representative, Simon laid

the cross beam down on the ground and stepped back. Jesus was then laid

down on the cross in Simon’s place. Soldiers drove nails through his wrists

and feet, and He was lifted up for all to see.

As we look at the story from Simon’s perspective, it is not just about the

decision of jealous leaders to kill Jesus to preserve their positions and way

of life. It is about a substitutional death. It is about Jesus dying on our

behalf. It is about the innocent party taking the place of the guilty. It is

about the guilty being set free from the harshness of God’s judgement.

Simon of Cyrene was God’s way of presenting the message of the gospel.

Hidden in the story of the cross of Christ is this powerful illustration of

Simon. He was not just a passerby—He was the instrument of God to

communicate to the world what Jesus did for us. He reminds us that God

touches those who have no interest in Him and compels them to follow His

Son. He is an encouragement to those of us with unsaved loved ones. Simon

is also a reminder to us that God is the One who hears our cry. He shows us

that God does take our need seriously and will respond in blessing at His

time. It is a call to faith in the God who hears.

Finally, Simon teaches us about the substitutionary death of Christ. Jesus

died in our place. There is no question that we were guilty before God. Like

Simon, we bore the weight of the cross on our shoulders. We were already

heading for the place of crucifixion, where we would suffer the judgement

of God for sin and rebellion. Like Simon, however, we handed that

judgement over to the Lord Jesus. There before Him, we stood, with the

cross beam on our shoulders, as guilty sinners condemned and sentenced to

death. As we approach Christ, however, we hear the call to lay down the

burden of the cross, place it at His feet, and step back. As we step back,

fully aware of our guilt, we watch the Lord Jesus walk over to that cross

and lay Himself on it in our place. He took all the pain and agony. He paid

the price that I should have paid. My sentence has been carried out. My

penalty has been paid. I am free from the guilt and shame I bore. Jesus took

it all on Himself.

Do you recognize that you have fallen short of God’s standard? Do you

accept the fact that you have been judged to be a sinner? Will you pick up

your cross accepting this guilt before God? Will you, fully admitting your

sin, bring your shame to Jesus and lay it at his feet, confessing your failure

and rebellion to Him? Will you then leave that guilt with Him? Will you

confess today that Jesus laid down His life for you on that cross? Can you

now walk in victory over your sentence, praising and devoting yourself to

Him who took your place? May God give each reader the grace to accept

this mighty and merciful work of Christ on our behalf.

For Consideration:

Do you feel that Simon was a random choice of the soldiers or God’s

instrument for a particular purpose? Explain.

How does Simon illustrate the message of the Gospel?

What is the difference between how the world saw the crucifixion and how

God saw it as illustrated in Simon?

Have you come to Christ with your sin? Have you cast your judgement on

Him?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord Jesus for taking on your punishment. Ask Him to help you

to live now as one who has been pardoned and freed from the burden of sin.

Thank the Lord that nothing happens by chance. Thank Him that He is in

every detail of your life. Even passersby like Simon have a purpose in the

heart of God.

If you have never understood the purpose of the cross of Jesus, take a

moment now to open your heart to His work on your behalf. Recognize

your sin and the need for forgiveness. Come to the Lord Jesus with your

guilt and ask Him to forgive.

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a book writing and

distribution ministry reaching out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in developing countries do

not have the resources necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase Bible

study materials for their ministries and personal encouragement. F. Wayne

Mac Leod is a member of Action International Ministries and has been

writing these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to

needy pastors and Christian workers around the world.

To date tens of thousands of books are being used in preaching, teaching,

evangelism and encouragement of local believers in over sixty countries.

Books in these series have now been translated into a number of languages.

The goal is to make them available to as many believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path visit our website at

www.lighttomypath.ca

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a

book writing and distribution ministry reaching

out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy

pastors and Christian workers around the world.

Tens of thousands of these books have been distributed and are being used

in preaching, teaching, evangelism and encouragement of local believers in

over sixty countries. Books are now been translated into a variety of

languages. The goal is to make them available to as many believers as

possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith-based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path visit our website at