Thursday, September 7: “Common Minutiae”
Mark 15: 21: “They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.”
It is a common part of the crucifixion story in all three synoptic Gospels: A player from far outside Israel, all the way from much-despised Egypt, has a pivotal role in the salvific events of Good Friday. If this detail wasn’t important, why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include it? They knew it was no accident that God included a Jewish expat in the saga–it shows the unlimited scope of the Gospel plan.
