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耶稣被诬告、被捕、被带到巡抚彼拉多那里受审，罗马兵丁们将祂鞭打。兵丁用的鞭子是系着铅片、尖锐石子或铁钉的皮条，每鞭打一下，皮鞭就会撕裂人的肌肤、猛地扯掉一块一块的肉；兵丁们又给耶稣戴上一个荆棘冠冕。这一切酷刑已经把耶稣折磨至半死，血流如注，祂实在没有力气背祂的十字架。

一个来自北非的古利奈人西门，“从乡下来，经过那地方，”罗马兵丁就勉强他背耶稣的十字架往各各他去。从乡下来到耶路撒冷的西门，大概也感到疲倦了，但他被逼改变行程、再次走出城外，是为了什么原因呢？是为了要替一个人背十字架，而这人被判了最残酷的十架死刑。

耶稣有没有与西门交谈或对视呢？我们不知道；但是，背了那个十字架后，西门的生命很有可能改变了。西门被描述为“亚历山大和鲁孚的父亲”，作者这样描述他，显示那些最早读到马可福音的群众，是认识这两个年青人的。西门和他的家人，会不会后来成为耶稣的门徒呢？肯定有这种可能性，因为耶稣从死里复活、升天之后，很多人都成为了祂的信徒。（参罗 16:13）

你相信耶稣吗？

Jesus was arrested and brought before the governor, Pilate, on false charges, and he was flogged by Roman soldiers. The soldiers' whips were made of leather strings that had pieces of lead, sharp bones, or nails tied onto them. Each stroke of the whip tore the person's skin and ripped out pieces of flesh. The soldiers also placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. All of this left Jesus deathly weak and bleeding, and he could not carry his cross.

Simon, a man from Cyrene in North Africa, "was passing by on his way in from the country," and the Romans forced him to carry Jesus' cross to Golgotha. Simon was probably tired already, since he was traveling in to Jerusalem from the countryside. But he was forced to change course and go back out of the city. And for what? To carry a cross for a man sentenced to a most horrible death by crucifixion.

Did Jesus talk to Simon or look him in the eye? We don't know, but it seems that Simon's life may have changed after carrying that cross. He is described also as "the father of Alexander and Rufus," mentioned here in a way that suggests these young men were known by the community that first read the book of Mark. Did Simon and his family become followers of Jesus? They surely could have, because many people became believers after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. (See also Romans 16:13.)

Do you believe?