Why God Chose A Black Jewish Man To Carry Jesus’s Cross: A Forgotten Legacy Of Faith, Identity, And Divine Purpose

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Why did God choose a Black Jewish man to carry Jesus’s cross? Discover the powerful truth hidden in plain sight, backed by Scripture from the Gospels and Old Testament. A heartfelt, eye-opening blog revealing the forgotten story of Black Jewish identity and divine calling.

Quick Summary:

Many people have never considered the deeper significance of the man who helped carry Jesus's cross—a Black Jewish man named Simon of Cyrene. This post dives into the historical and spiritual reasons behind this choice, bringing biblical insight and emotional healing to those questioning their heritage, identity, or place in God's story. With Scripture directly from the Gospels and Old Testament only, we explore why this forgotten moment holds eternal weight for Black Jewish people today—and how it can restore dignity, direction, and destiny to a marginalized people.

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🧭 H1: Why God Chose a Black Jewish Man to Carry Jesus's Cross

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🔥 A Hidden Moment that Changed History

In the middle of the most climactic moment in history—Jesus’s walk to the crucifixion—a Black Jewish man steps into the story.

> "And they compelled one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross."

— Mark 15:21 (KJV)

Simon of Cyrene—a region in North Africa—was Black, Jewish, and divinely positioned to participate in God’s redemptive plan. Why him? Why now? What does that mean for Black Jewish people today?

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✨ The Problem: Erased, Overlooked, and Misunderstood

Too many Black Jewish people wrestle with:

Invisibility in Jewish spaces

Erasure from historical narratives

Misrepresentation in Christian teachings

Disconnected identity—Black but not “Jewish enough,” Jewish but not “accepted”

But Scripture paints a different story—a story of belonging, calling, and chosenness.

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🕯️ The Bible Doesn’t Ignore Black Jews—It Honors Them

✨ Simon of Cyrene Was Chosen for a Reason

He didn’t volunteer. He was “compelled”—but God used that moment for purpose.

He was present at the right time—a divine setup, not coincidence.

His name is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26), emphasizing his importance.

> “As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.”

— Matthew 27:32

🌍 Cyrene Was in North Africa

Located in modern-day Libya, Cyrene was home to a thriving Jewish community.

The Old Testament mentions the presence of Jews in North Africa:

> “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.”

— Zephaniah 3:10

God saw and prophesied about His scattered children—including in Africa.

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📜 Biblical Insight: God Sees the Scattered and Marginalized

The Old Testament reveals God's deep love for His scattered people:

> "I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back..."

— Isaiah 43:5–6

God never abandoned His people. He never forgot those in the south—Africa.

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💔 Why It Hurts to Be Forgotten

For centuries, Black Jewish people have been:

Ignored in mainstream Judaism

Exploited or tokenized by Christianity

Forgotten in Bible storytelling

This leads to:

Identity crises

Spiritual confusion

Generational trauma

But Simon’s story says otherwise.

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❤️‍🔥 A Divine Reminder to the Black Jewish Diaspora

Simon’s hands touched the wooden beam that the Messiah of Israel would be crucified on.

That moment was more than labor.

It was prophetic participation.

It was visible legacy.

It was honor.

God was saying to the world:

“Black Jewish people are not outsiders—they are my instruments.”

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🔍 How Black Jewish People Fit into God's Bigger Story

Moses married an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1)

Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian rescued Jeremiah and was promised safety by God (Jeremiah 38:7–13, 39:15–18)

Queen of Sheba, likely Ethiopian, sought the wisdom of Solomon and praised God (1 Kings 10)

Black Jewish people were never sidelined by God, only by man.

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💡 The Solution: Reclaiming the Truth with Scripture

Let’s break the lies:

Lie Truth

Black Jews are rare or new Black Jews existed throughout biblical history

Simon was just a bystander Simon was part of divine prophecy

Africa is outside of God’s plan Africa is central to God’s global purpose

God forgot His scattered ones God promised to gather them back

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🕊️ What You Can Do Today:

🙏 If You’re a Black Jewish Believer:

Own your story—you are not an accident.

Study the Scriptures—Old Testament + Gospels show your place.

Tell your children about Simon and the legacy they carry.

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Passover, and Shabbat with confidence and joy.

📢 If You’re Not Black or Not Jewish:

Acknowledge the erasure of Black Jews from history.

Learn the stories of African Jewish communities—like the Igbo, Lemba, Beta Israel, and others.

Support spaces that honor both Jewish identity and African heritage.

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🧠 Structured for Search: People Ask…

❓ Was Simon of Cyrene Black?

Yes. Cyrene was in Africa, and many early Jewish communities lived there. Simon is one of the clearest biblical examples of a Black Jewish man.

❓ Is Africa mentioned in the Bible?

Yes. Ethiopia, Cush, Egypt, and Put are all in Africa and frequently appear in both the Old Testament and the Gospels.

❓ What does the Bible say about scattered Jews in Africa?

> “He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel…”

— Isaiah 11:12

God’s redemption plan includes the dispersed, including those in Africa.

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✝️ The Cross Was Shared with a Black Jewish Man—On Purpose

When Jesus stumbled, God didn’t send a Roman, a priest, or even a disciple.

He sent Simon of Cyrene.

He sent a Black Jewish man—a symbol of the scattered, overlooked, and oppressed—to carry the burden with the Messiah.

That wasn’t just a moment.

It was a message.

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🌿 Final Word: You Are Not Forgotten

To every Black Jewish believer reading this:

You are not erased. You are engraved.

> “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands…”

— Isaiah 49:16

Simon of Cyrene was not a footnote.

He was a forerunner.

A representative.

A reminder.

God chose a Black Jewish man to carry Jesus’s cross.

And today, He chooses you—to carry light, truth, and the unshakable knowledge that you belong.

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📣 Share This Post

If this spoke to your heart—share it.

📱 Post it on social media with the hashtag #BlackJewishLegacy

🕯️ Read it aloud during Shabbat or a Bible study

📜 Print and hang it in your home or synagogue

Let the world remember what God never forgot.