They seized one Simon of Cyrene ... and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

We might call Simon of Cyrene a rather insignificant man in the larger sweep and sway of scripture. He's not a major figure; in fact, the Bible mentions him just once, almost in passing: "They seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus."

It is worth noting that Simon was an African, from the city of Cyrene in what is now northern Libya. He was probably a Jew, since there was a large Jewish community in Cyrene, and he had two sons who later became well-known Christians (cf. Mark 15:21). That's all we know about him, a rather insignificant man.

But this insignificant man happened to be in Jerusalem on the day Jesus w…