What does Mark 15:21 Mean?

Study Notes

Rufus
It is possible that this may be the same Rufus mentioned in Romans 16:13 .

Verse Meaning

Probably only Mark mentioned Simon"s sons because the Christians in Rome knew them or knew of them (cf. Romans 16:13). Evidently Simon became a believer in Jesus. Mark mentioned very few people by name other than the Twelve. Simon was evidently a North African Jew who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover season. Since there was a large population of Jews in Cyrene it is probable that Simon was racially a Semite rather than a Negro. ^[1] Simon had to do literally what all followers of Jesus must do figuratively, namely, bear His cross (cf. Mark 8:34; Luke 23:26). [source][source]

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Context Summary

The hurried consultation of the evening was followed by the more formal meeting of the early morning; and even the decision made then had no binding force till ratified by Pilate, the Roman governor, who happened at that time to be in Jerusalem. John gives a more detailed account of this memorable interview, John 18:33-38. Our Lord did not plead His own cause but committed Himself to the One who judges righteously, 1 Peter 2:23. It was only when Pilate asked questions for his own guidance that Jesus sought to help him and then He relapsed into silence. "Like a sheep dumb before her shearers, so He opened not His mouth." Men like Barabbas, embodiments of brute force, are ever the darlings of the crowd. By narrowing the people's choice to the murderer and Jesus, Pilate expected to bring them to demand the release of the lover and helper of men. But he failed to gauge the malice of which men are capable. Perhaps he hoped that the marks of extreme suffering would soften their hatred. As well appeal to a pack of hungry wolves! His purple stood for royalty won by blood; thorns, because His diadem was won by suffering; the reed, because he can wield the frailest life to momentous issues. Happy is the man who shares Christ's cross! Simon was an African, probably colored, and this incident changed his life, Romans 16:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 15

¹  Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate
⁶  Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
¹²  and Jesus delivered up to be crucified
¹⁶  He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
²¹  faints in bearing his cross;
²⁷  hangs between two thieves;
²⁹  suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
³⁹  but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
⁴²  and is honorably buried by Joseph