Romans 16:13: Greet Rufus, Chosen In The Lord; Also His Mother, Who Has Been A Mother To Me As Well.

Romans 16:13

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. (ESV)

This little verse has more information for us than you might expect. Most biblical scholars believe that Rufus' father was none other than Simon of Cyrene. You may remember that he was the one who was asked to carry the Savior's cross on the way to Golgotha. It could be, at the time Paul wrote this, that Simon was no longer living. But he sends greetings to Rufus and his mother.

I can only imagine growing up in the home that Rufus grew up in. Perhaps Simon reminded his family that Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Simon could have followed that up with the fact that he carried the cross of Christ and that all people who would follow Christ were called to also carry the cross.

Another interesting thing to note in this passage is that Paul viewed Rufus' mother as being a mother to him as well. I look at Paul as being independent, strong, and almost unstoppable. Paul needed a mom. Paul was willing to be vulnerable and admit that he needed the nurturing that a godly mother can provide. I am also sure that they talked about Simon and his connection with the cross.

When Simon of Cyrene was carrying the cross of Christ Paul was busy trying to live a life of self-righteousness as a Pharisee. What a contrast to see the Apostle Paul go from being a man who looked to himself as the source of righteousness to a man who was willing to be killed for the sake of Jesus Christ. I can imagine the amazing conversations Paul had with his "mom."

We all need a "mom" in our lives. If you no longer have one, ask the Lord to provide one for you as he did for the Apostle Paul.