I am Simon of Cyrene. There were so many Simons in Israel that we adopted second names. Since I had lived in Cyrene North Africa, I preferred to be known as Simon from Cyrene. We settled in Jerusalem and acquired some property in the country. Every day I would go to my property and take care of the cultivating, seeding, planting, weeding and harvesting. This particular day was our preparation day for the Passover. In the evening, we would kill our lamb, smear the blood on our doorposts as a sign for the angel of death to spare us; then, we would eat our meal remembering how our ancestors were delivered from Egypt. We would also eat, in the hope that the one Moses promised, would soon come and deliver us again. So far, many had come in the name of God, but no one had delivered us from our oppressors.

I am Malchus, the servant to the High Priest of Israel. My name means "king." Sometimes, I was called, "the little king." I came from the same background of Herod, the King. I, too, was a Nabateans or a Edomites. Edom, or Esau, was the older twin of Jacob, the father of Israel. Being a servant to a High priest, in Israel, was like being Prime Minister of a country. In Israel, the High Priest ranked above the King. He was regarded as God's emissary to the nation. The reason that I was in his Highness's service was that he did not trust his own people. And I was with the High Priest at Herod's request. What I am trying to convey is that I was no simple slave, but one who carried out the more essential tasks of the man who held the highest office in the land. I was ordered to stop Jesus from causing any inconvenience to the High Priest and his priests who were not exactly up front with the people. In my final attempt to apprehending Jesus of Nazareth, I lost and regained an ear all, at the same time.

I belonged to the household of a rich family in Jerusalem. My duties were to look after supplies and keep the properties in order. I did the work women were not able to do. I rearranged furniture for guests and meetings. I was in charge of transporting people with my carriage. I was very busy during our large feasts like the Remembrance Day, when our ancestors were delivered from slavery in Egypt. During this season, things were different. We were not free to speak about a certain Prophet that had made on impression on us. There were changes in the air and we were in the midst of it. It had become dangerous, even to invite the Prophet and His follower or speak His name. I am speaking about Jesus.

I, too, was delivered from my sinful ways. I could no longer recall how I was freed from the desire to taste what had caused me much pain. I kept my sins hidden so I could appear respectful in public. One day, Jesus from Nazareth looked my way and from that moment on a new feeling entered my heart. I began to forgive those that had hurt me and myself for feeling hurt. I also began to think of others more than of myself. I opened up to the world and began to do things for others. I found that kindness was being rewarded. I began to feel strongly that I should express my gratitude to Jesus for the good He was doing. I earned some money and waited for an opportunity when I could do something special for my benefactor.

Jesus did regard me as the man with the greater sin than the one that had to sentence Him to die. I did not much care what Jesus thought. I hated that Man with a passion. I was Annas, father-in-law to Caiaphas, the high priest that year and I had Jesus crucified. I was the power in the land. I plotted the demise of Jesus and coerced Pilate to do my handiwork. I had everyone under my thumb. Even Rome listened to me. I could not let a little prophet, from nowhere, take my power away. How did I get rid of my worst enemy?

I lived in Bethphage, between Bethany and the Mount of Olives. My home and business was beside the road between the two places. I was in the business of moving goods and people. I rented or leased donkeys to people that needed assistance. I had installed posts by the road to tie up my donkeys. And I had attendants in charge of the animals. It was close to our biggest holy day, the "Day of Deliverance" from Egypt, that our business was most prosperous. A week prior to our celebration of the Passover, we were down to only one donkey and it's foal. I saw two men approach the donkeys, untie the foal and lead it away. My servants tried to stop them and did not. I asked them why they let them take the foal. They informed me that the two men had said, "The Lord had need of it. We assumed it was you, Sir."

Paul, who was called an agitator (Ac.16: 20) wrote, "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal.1: 10). Jesus, the Christ, put it thus, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets" (Lk.6: 26). Regarding the lawyers (legalists) and preachers of the day, Jesus concluded, "Everything they do is done for men to see" (Mt.23: 5).

I was a fisherman and ran my in-law's fishing business. The work was hard and I was tough. And my family depended on me. I could not wander about the country, like my brother Andrew, following religious rumors. One day, he did come back and insisted that I meet a Man called, "Jesus." He was certain that He fitted Moses' and the Prophet's description of another leader like David was. I did go with Andrew and I was a bit surprised that this "Stranger" was Jesus of Nazareth and that He knew my name and called me a hard man; namely, "Simon the rock." Well, I was hard. I had to be. But I was not as hard as I thought I was. Jesus' knowledge of me was impressive; but, I needed a lot more convincing that He was the one God had designated as our leader.

The world will never be able to make up its mind regarding my betrayal of my Teacher. Bear with me, for a moment, and ask yourself whether I was in charge of what I was doing? Then, ask what would have happened if I had not done what I did? While you are asking, would I have been better off if I had not been born? Is it possible that someone, other than I, bore the greater guilt? Are you not puzzled why Jesus, who could look into my heart and into the future, chose me in spite of it? Perhaps, I was just as much a part of a plan to redeem man, as Jesus was? Did not my betrayal serve to defeat Satan? When Satan entered my heart, he defeated himself (Jn.13: 27). Neither of us could change destiny.

I am pleased to be remembered as the other Mary or the Handy-Mary. One could even call me, "the utility lady." I would do what no one else would or had time to do. I volunteered to be around when others could not. I was present at all the events of Jesus' ministry from the beginning to the end.