As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus — the seizure of Simon of Cyrene: the compelled cross-bearing. He was coming in from the country (ap' agrou, from the field): the ordinary man on the ordinary errand, suddenly recruited into the passion. Carrying the cross behind Jesus: the accidental cross-bearer becomes the living illustration of the discipleship Jesus called for.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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