SIMON – SOMEONE WHO LEFT A LEGACY
‘Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus…’ (Mark 15:21).
The Gospel of Mark was written in AD 60, some 30 years after the death of Jesus. By then, Simon of Cyrene had become quite popular among the Christians in Rome, Jerusalem and Antioch. The man who was known as the one who carried the cross of Jesus was now known as the father of Alexander and Rufus.
Rufus and his mother (i.e. Simon’s wife) were well known to Apostle Paul. He fondly recalls them in Romans 16:13, ‘Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.’ What qualities did Simon’s wife have to be considered and called as his mother by Apostle Paul? I am sure she must have had all the attributes of the virtuous wife mentioned in Proverbs 31:10-31.
‘Rufus, the chosen one in Christ.’ What a title! What a privilege! From being a somebody in the crowd, Simon became the man who carried the cross of Jesus. His life did not end with just that identity. He became well known in the Christendom as the father of Alexander and Rufus, chosen in Christ. Simon the Cyrene had left a rich legacy. His wife and children (and I am sure his descendants as well) became followers of Christ.
The choice before us is to follow the world or follow Christ. To take up the cross and follow Christ daily or follow the patterns of the world.
Colossians 3:1 has a gem of an advice for followers of Christ. ‘If you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.’
To be raised with Christ, one has to die with Christ. Carrying the cross is dying to self. He who has died on the cross with Jesus does not live for himself anymore. ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,’ (Galatians 2:20).
The benefits of following Christ far outweighs anything the world has to offer.
1 John 2:17 says: ‘And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.’
Robin Sam is a preacher, Bible teacher and missions worker. He works in Messenger Missions, a Gospel proclaiming ministry and edits The Christian Messenger magazines in English and Tamil.
