It’s in the Details

The smallest details in biblical stories bear close examination. They are not there by accident, and often reveal a great deal.

An example of this principle is a verse from the oldest gospel, Mark 15:21, where we first hear of the man named Simon from Cyrenica. Jesus is being led to his crucifixion; “A man called Simon, from Cyrenica, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they pressed him into service to carry his [Jesus’] cross” (see also Matthew 27:32 and Luke 23:26).