Black Lives In The Bible: Encounters With Jesus- Simon of Cyrene

Back in 2018, my father and I went to The Bible Museum in Washington, DC and they have a section on the Bible and American slavery. Slave didn’t have the Books of Exodus and Revelation read to them in church. Unfortunately, Euro-centrist interpretation of theologians in our age argued against a Black presence in the Bible. It was their way of justifying slavery and subjugation of Blacks, and other peoples of color. 

But there’s no way around it. Blacks are spread throughout the Old and New Testaments. We are an ancient people, who have been around since the time of Genesis when Nimrod (a Black man), son of Kush, founded Mesopotamia.

Before I get started, the Bible teaches that God doesn’t see race and He has made all races and ethnicities into one ancestry that’s rooted in Him. No matter your skin color, we are all made in the image of God, and made right with Him through the gift of salvation by way of Jesus. With all that’s coming out of the US and protests springing up around the world, it’s important to take up the mind of Christ, not the mind of CNN, NBC news, the BBC, movements or political parties.

Above all, we must be reflecting the heart of God, asking Him to purify our hearts and minds. If we don’t the enemy will continue to divide humanity, leaving people feeling bitter and angry, as our hearts will easily deceive us with the emotions floating around us. When we acknowledge God, He will direct our paths. When we stop thinking from our hearts and emotions, we start thinking from His presence. We’re seeing an insurgence of people not wanting the truth, but their truth, and as a result, they are flocking to messages that align with their hearts. We must always stand for the truth and injustice from a Biblical perspective as Christians, and yes, #BlackLivesMatter #AllLivesMatter. But we must be in the flow of God, pressing into His heart, mind, and will.

To kick off this series, I’m focusing on Simon of Cyrene because he was Black, and most likely a Jew from modern day Libya that had a personal encounter with Jesus, as He served Jesus in His final hour. What I’m sharing in today’s Friday Post are suggestions of Simon, as many facts about who he was are still unclear today. But, it is fact that he helped carry Jesus’ cross as Jesus’ body was bruised and badly beaten, and just about at death’s door. When we have personal encounters with Jesus, we are never the same again, and I’m sure that this was the case for Simon.

From the 2014 Passion of the Christ Film

What’s interesting about Simon is that the synoptic Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) make it clear that Simon was a foreigner, that he was African, and that he was the one who helped Jesus carry His cross. But it was Luke, a Greek, who wrote that Simon carried Jesus’ cross, behind Jesus as the Savior walked on ahead (Luke 23:26). This is a clear note by Luke, showing us the readers, what discipleship looks like. Jesus was modeling discipleship, even into death. Blacks and minorities who carry their individual crosses of racism are to follow Jesus, as He leads us into a victorious life.

And, it shows that in life, we don’t always get to pick our “crosses” and what they look like, but we must bear them. For Black people, our cross is our skin color and yes, we are to peacefully protest for better treatment, but also, we will always bear in some way or another this cross. And I argue, we should bear it with pride.

In the hardest hours of Jesus’ life, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually we see that Simon came to help with the burden and lighten the load. Simon, though he was a Black man had a place amongst God’s beautiful garden of races. And there is something for all of us to take away from the opportunity that Simon had, here are 3 takeaways:

1. Discipleship-

The meaning of discipleship in its simplicity is someone who follows Jesus. As Luke wrote, Simon carried Jesus’ cross and walked behind the Master. We see from this detail that there is symbolism. That despite the thousands of years of racism against us as Black people all over the world, we are to follow Jesus.

 I’ve had plenty of talks with Blacks who choose not to follow Jesus, who choose to want nothing to do with the “White man’s religion,” and that when African slaves arrived to the Americas they had their own beliefs.” And while it’s true that Africans at that time dabbled deep into ancestral worship and occult practices, it doesn’t negate that Jesus came and died for them too. Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not the White man’s God, but God to all men and women.

Our job is be in right relationship with God, follow Jesus at all costs, speak up and protest when and where we can, pray to God for injustice to turn to justice, and leave vengeance in the hands of God.

2. Pick up your cross-

Jesus said: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Everyone in this world has their problems and challenges, both genders, all races, all socio-economic levels- all of us. And for Blacks, unfortunately our distinct trait of dark brown skin of all shades has been our cross. So, what do we do? We have to take heart and pick up this cross and carry it with joy and pride, boasting in our own hearts that God gave us this distinct trait. With all the hardships that come with my dark brown skin, I wouldn’t trade it to be any other color.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are made in God’s image, and God didn’t make a mistake when He created his diverse Garden of races. He finds joy in the distinct traits He has given us, just as He does with other races He has made. But, we have to be strong and resolve in our minds to be overcomers. We have been overcomers for thousands of years, so we can’t stop now.

3. We have a place-

We see from Simon carrying Jesus’ cross that he had a place. Whether Simon was forced by a Roman officer to do the task, or he volunteered, it is clear that he had a larger role in all of our salvation stories. An opportunity was in front of Him to help the Savior travel up the Via Del Rosa to Golgotha. And just as Simon had a place and that opportunity, Black people have a place in this world too, and though our opportunities have been managed by Whites, God always gets the final say. We have been put here by the Mighty Creator to shine His glory and to be blessed by others, as well as be a blessing to others. Never let anyone make you feel less than who you were created to be. You have a place just like other races of people have their rightful place in God’s family.

Happy Friday and with love! God bless you and go bless someone else this weekend!