Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 15:21

"And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go [with them], that he might bear his cross." — Mark 15:21 (ASV)

Men condemned to die by crucifixion were customarily required to carry the heavy wooden crosspiece on which they were to be nailed to the place of execution. Jesus started out carrying his cross , but it proved too much for him. One can hardly imagine the pain caused by the rough heavy beam pressing into the lacerated skin and muscles of Jesus’ shoulders. The scourging and loss of blood had so weakened him that he could not go on, so they randomly apprehended one Simon of Cyrene and forced him into service. Simon was no doubt a Jew and was on his way to the city of Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. Mark probably mentions Simon’s two sons Alexander and Rufus because they were known to the Roman church (cf. Romans 16:13).

This model of old Jerusalem shows the traditional site of Golgotha, along a path outside the walls of the city.