Who was the man called "Simon". Was it Peter? No. Simon Magus? No. Simon of Cyrene was the man who was forced to carry the cross on the Via Delarosa - "The Way of the Cross". Jesus couldn't do it, he was physically weakened from the scourging of the 39 stripes.

Although to Simon, Jesus was a stranger, what took place that day was an unwanted, but ultimately life changing experience for Simon. With no previous knowledge of Jesus, circumstances prevailed to bring Simon to witness the crucifixion.

What did he see and hear? As he struggled along, under the burden, eyes fixed on the rough terrain at his feet, this, in part is what Simon heard:

The groans of Jesus as he made the painful effort to get back on His feet.

The yells of the rough soldiers trying to push back the spectators and hurry the procession along.

He heard the not too quiet whispers of people lining the roadway, listening to bits and pieces:

"Who is this man?"

"He doesn't look like the other two?"

"What's He being punished for?"

"I heard He started a rebellion against the government."

"Isn't that the same man who caused such a stir when He came into town last week riding on a donkey?"

"I remember Him. He healed my leprosy, and I never went back to thank him!"

"Someone told me His name is Jesus - supposedly a modern day Joshua."

"Oh, those Roman soldiers are so cruel, look at blood running down His face."

Then he heard the ear piercing wails of the women, and Jesus calling back to them, "Don't weep for me, weep for yourselves and your children."

The strain became greater as Simon started to climb the hill. He thought to himself, "I wonder if this is the same place where Abraham sacrificed his son Isaac? I'm like the son, carrying the wood for the sacrifice."

Soldiers grabbed the beam from his shoulder, and Simon staggered back to join the rest of the crowd at the edge of the hill. Then he could see it all:

The wide ark of the hammar striking metal nails driven through the hands of Jesus to fasten him to this ingenious instrument of torture.

The cross beam on which Jesus' hands were fastened roughly hoisted up to rest on a protusion in the upright post which already was strongly set in the soil.

Sweat dropping from the brow of the soldier weilding the hammer.

The feet fastened by nails.

The deep deep groans as the agonizing wait for death began.

Simon was curious when he saw what looked like a sign fastened above the heads of the men on the crosses and he edged close enough to see the one above the head of Jesus. It said "The King of the Jews".

He watched as Jesus used the torured, cramped muscles in his thighs to push His body up just enough to expand His lungs to cry out, "My God . . .", "Father Forgive...", "John, take care of my mother", and finally, "Into Thy hands I commend my Spirit".

Simon heard the taunts of the religious leaders, the banter of the soldiers gambling for the robe they had tore off Jesus' body, tearing hunks of tattered flesh with it, and the conversations going on between the three crucified victims.

He stood perfectly still as the sky suddenly grew dark, even though it was high noon.

And he was startled to hear the Roman Captain remark, "Surely this must be the Son of God."

Simon watched as a religious leader whispered to the Captain, the Captain gave orders to the idle soldiers who then went to each body hanging there, and broke their legs, trying to hasten the dying so the bodies could be taken down before the evening began. But he also noticed that the man on the middle cross, Jesus, was already dead, and instead of breaking the bones, the soldier thrust his spear through the rib cage into the heart. Out came blood and water.

Simon was about to walk away when he noticed a very well dressed man approach the Captain. He was evidently one of the Jewish leaders, but his face appeared very different from the others, it was etched with sorrow, and softened with kindness. A few moments later, the bodies were removed from the crosses, and this man led away the group carrying the body of Jesus.

Simon suddenly realized that he had been standing there for more than three hours. He turned to rejoin his wife and two young sons who all this time had been huddling at the edge of the small crowd. Together they disappeared down the hill into the bustling city preparing for the Passover Feast.

Epilogue:

Simon of Cyrene doesn't disappear from history. His life was greatly changed - perhaps he had relatives in Jerusalem, and was still in the city at Pentecost, heard Peter's sermon and became a believer, was baptized among the 3,000. (We do know there were people there from Cyrene, and one of them was a Christian leader at Antioch (Acts 13:1).

We also know that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus; he is mentioned in Romans (16:13). Perhaps he had migrated to Rome with his mother.