The Black African Man Who Carried Jesus's Cross: The Untold Truth About Black Jewish People In The Bible

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Discover the powerful biblical legacy of Black Jewish people through the story of Simon of Cyrene—the African man who carried Jesus’s cross. Uncover emotional insights, hidden truths, and prophetic hope rooted in the Old Testament and Gospels.

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Quick Summary:

The presence of Black Jewish people in Scripture isn’t a modern theory—it’s a biblical reality rooted in both the Gospels and the Old Testament. This post dives deep into the life-changing story of Simon of Cyrene, a Black African man chosen by God to carry the cross of Jesus. If you've ever felt erased, misunderstood, or spiritually homeless—this blogpost is a love letter to your soul. You are seen in Scripture. You are rooted in covenant. And your story is sacred.

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✨ Why This Blog Post Matters

Many people—especially Black believers—have wondered:

“Where do I fit in the story of the Bible?”

“Was anyone who looked like me part of the story of Jesus?”

“Am I really connected to the promises of Israel?”

The answer is not only yes—it is deeply prophetic.

This post uncovers the often-erased legacy of Black Jewish people and answers the cry of those seeking identity, dignity, and spiritual belonging.

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📖 The Black Man Who Carried Jesus’s Cross

> “As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”

— Luke 23:26 (NIV)

Simon of Cyrene was not Roman.

He was not white.

He was not random.

He was Black. African. And chosen.

Cyrene was a major city in Libya, North Africa. Simon was a Jew from this region—part of the Diaspora who came to Jerusalem for Passover, possibly with his sons (Mark 15:21). And in the most pivotal moment in history—when Jesus was too weak to carry His cross—God chose a Black African Jewish man to lift it.

This is not coincidence. It is covenant.

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💔 The Problem: Why This Truth Has Been Ignored

For centuries, the role of Black people in the Bible has been:

Minimized or erased

Overshadowed by Eurocentric art and theology

Taught as if Black people only enter Scripture through slavery or sin

This misrepresentation leads to:

Identity crisis among Black believers

Spiritual disconnection from Israel’s story

Loss of faith in the relevance of Scripture

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🕊️ The Biblical Truth: Black Jewish People in Scripture

1. Ethiopians and Cushites Are Blessed, Not Cursed

> "Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."

— Psalm 68:31

Ethiopia (Cush) is celebrated in the Psalms. Black nations are not cursed, as falsely taught by some. They are prophetically called to worship the God of Israel.

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2. The Queen of Sheba and Solomon

> “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon... she came to test him with hard questions.”

— 1 Kings 10:1

A powerful Black queen from the south (likely modern-day Ethiopia or Yemen) visits Solomon. She is wise, wealthy, and respected. Some Jewish and Ethiopian traditions link her to the origin of Ethiopian Judaism.

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3. The Ethiopian Eunuch and the Prophets

> “Then Philip ran up to the chariot... This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: ‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter…’”

— Isaiah 53 & Acts 8:30-33

Though Acts is not part of your requested list, it shows a Black African man reading Isaiah, searching for the Messiah. Even the Old Testament prophets foresaw this inclusion (Isaiah 11:11 names Cush specifically).

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4. Moses’s Cushite Wife

> “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.”

— Numbers 12:1

This reveals interracial marriage among God’s people. When Miriam and Aaron judged, God struck Miriam with leprosy—showing His defense of the union.

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5. Prophecy for Black Nations in the End Times

> “In that day... they will bring gifts to the Lord... from a people tall and smooth-skinned, a people feared far and wide... whose land is divided by rivers.”

— Isaiah 18:7

Africa isn’t just in the past of biblical history. It's in its prophetic future.

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🙌 Why This Should Change Everything

If you're Black and Jewish—whether by heritage or by belief in the Jewish Messiah—you are:

Prophetically present in Scripture

Not an outsider, but a first-hand participant in God’s redemptive story

Chosen and honored, not erased

Simon of Cyrene was not just helping.

He was sharing in Messiah’s suffering.

He was linked to the cross.

He was seen by Heaven.

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🔥 Actionable Takeaways for Black Jewish Believers Today

✅ Reclaim Your Biblical Identity

Study Scriptures where Cush, Ethiopia, and Egypt are honored. See yourself in them.

✅ Challenge Misrepresentations

Don't accept silence about Black presence in the Bible. Ask hard questions in love.

✅ Tell Simon’s Story Loudly

When you speak of the crucifixion, remember that a Black Jewish man carried that cross. And it matters.

✅ Build Bridges, Not Barriers

Blackness and Jewishness are not opposites. They have been intertwined for millennia.

✅ Let the Gospel Heal Historical Trauma

Jesus didn’t erase race—He redeemed all people into one new family.

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🕯️ Reflection + Encouragement

> “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free…”

— Luke 4:18

Yeshua’s mission was liberation. That includes Black people. Black stories. Black identity.

The story of Simon of Cyrene is not a footnote.

It is a foundation stone of the Gospel.

You are part of the Gospel story.

You were always meant to be.

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🙏 A Closing Prayer

Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

Thank You for seeing Your children of every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Thank You for Simon of Cyrene—the Black man who bore the burden of the Cross.

Help every Black Jewish believer feel seen, valued, and anchored in Your Word.

Restore what history tried to erase.

Let the beauty of identity, ancestry, and covenant rise again in this generation.

In the name of Yeshua,

Amen.

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📌 Share This Post With Someone Who Needs to Know:

That they’re not a mistake.

That their roots are righteous.

That their story is in the Bible.

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🗣️ Comment Below:

Have you ever heard the story of Simon of Cyrene taught this way?

What has your journey been like discovering your identity in Scripture?

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🔗 Related Posts You Might Love:

The Hidden Legacy of Cush and Ethiopia 

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Messianic Jewish Identity: What It Means to Be Both

Why the Gospel Is Not Colorblind