Simon of Cyrene: What It Means to Carry the Cross and Follow Jesus (Luke 23:26)

When most people think about the crucifixion, they think about Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary. But in Luke 23:26, another man steps into the story—Simon of Cyrene. He didn’t volunteer. He wasn’t looking for attention. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time… or more accurately, the right place at the right time under God’s perfect providence. Simon was forced to carry the cross behind Jesus, and in doing so he became a powerful picture of discipleship. Jesus had already told His followers, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Simon didn’t just hear those words—he lived them. His moment of suffering, inconvenience, and humiliation teaches us what it really means to follow Christ when obedience is costly. In this message, we’ll look at why Simon was chosen, what his cross-bearing reveals about Jesus, and how this brief encounter challenges every believer to embrace the path of self-denial, surrender, and faithful discipleship. https://youtu.be/u1sd0r_TnF0 Table of contentsWhy Following Jesus Is DifferentJesus’ Call: Deny Yourself and Carry the CrossLesson 1: We Choose to Follow ChristLesson 2: Christ Also Chooses UsSimon of Cyrene Carries the Cross Behind JesusWe Don’t Always Choose the Cross We CarryLesson 2: How We Carry Our Cross MattersFive Ways People Carry the Cross Well (or Poorly)1) Submission vs. Resistance2) Faith vs. Unbelief3) Humility vs. Pride4) Drawing Near vs. Pulling Away5) Obedience vs. ExcusesLesson 3: Carrying the Cross Is a PrivilegeConclusion: Look to Jesus Why Following Jesus Is Different Most people want the blessings of Christianity: Forgiveness of sins Eternal life Heaven Glorified bodies But when people learn that following Christ also involves self-denial and suffering, many decide they don’t want the cost. They want the crown—without the cross. And that’s why Jesus repeatedly gave strong, sobering words about discipleship. Jesus’ Call: Deny Yourself and Carry the Cross Jesus didn’t hide what it meant to follow Him: Luke 9:23 — “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 14:27 — “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” When crowds followed Him, Jesus didn’t try to entertain them. He challenged them—because He wanted true disciples, not casual spectators. Lesson 1: We Choose to Follow Christ In one sense, discipleship is a choice. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after Me…” That means we must respond. Following Christ means this: There is a cross for Jesus And there is a cross for every disciple If He suffered, we must be willing to suffer too A student is not above his teacher Jesus doesn’t promise comfort. He promises Himself—and He calls us to follow Him wherever that leads. Lesson 2: Christ Also Chooses Us Here’s what’s fascinating: while we must choose to follow Christ, Scripture also shows that Christ chooses His disciples. Think about the Twelve. They didn’t wake up one day and decide to become Jesus’ disciples. Jesus came to them. Matthew 4:19 — Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow Me.” Matthew 9:9 — Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow Me.” John 1:43 — Jesus found Philip and said, “Follow Me.” Luke 6:12–13 — Jesus prayed all night and then chose the twelve. John 15:16 — “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” So do we choose to follow Jesus, or does Jesus choose us? Yes. God is sovereign, and we are responsible. We willingly follow Christ, yet we do so only because He first chose and called us. Simon of Cyrene Carries the Cross Behind Jesus Now we come to Simon. Luke 23:26 says: “As they led Him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene… and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.” Simon didn’t volunteer. He didn’t step forward to make a bold statement. He wasn’t trying to be heroic. He was seized. He was forced. He was drafted into a burden he never expected. Mark’s Gospel adds more detail: Simon was a “passerby” He was “coming in from the country” He was the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15:21) Simon woke up expecting an ordinary day—but God had written him into the most extraordinary moment in human history. And that’s often how cross-bearing works. We Don’t Always Choose the Cross We Carry Simon pictures something important: discipleship often includes crosses we didn’t ask for. Many people think following Jesus means choosing a difficult life on purpose—like signing up for something painful. But often, discipleship looks like this: A burden is laid on your shoulders A trial shows up without warning You didn’t choose it But now you must carry it faithfully In other words, carrying the cross usually isn’t about choosing your suffering—it’s about accepting what God assigns and honoring Christ in it. Lesson 2: How We Carry Our Cross Matters ...