As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus Christ’s cross.
This verse tells of an episode in which what seems like a random incident in human history is turned into a divine mystery. Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the field (Mark 15:21), suddenly becomes the man whom they compel to carry Jesus’ cross. Although at first it was coercion, it became grace: to share in the Savior’s suffering. Simon symbolizes every believer who is called to carry his cross with Jesus (Luke 9:23): a person does not choose the cross, but when he takes it up with love, it becomes a path of salvation. This episode shows that divine providence works even within coercion, making it a means of blessing. It also symbolizes that a person may be able to take part in carrying the cross, but not in being crucified: carrying the cross is human participation, but being crucified belongs only to Christ, through whom salvation also came.