Rufus & His Mom

Romans 16:13: Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

That Rufus was prominent in the church is inferred in the reference to his father. When John Mark wrote his Gospel, he wrote it primarily for the Romans. In it he mentions the incident of a man by the name of Simon carrying the cross of Christ. The Roman soldiers that day saw Jesus falling under the cross. Looking over the crowd they shouted, “Here!” to a big double–fisted fellow, Simon of Cyrene. “You come here and carry it.” And carry it he did—an act that has made him immortal. John Mark, writing to Rome, identifies Simon for them by adding, “the father of Alexander and Rufus”—all the saints at Rome would know Rufus because he was outstanding in the church.

While we know nothing of the mother of Paul the apostle and nothing of his father, we learn here of a godly woman in the city of Jerusalem, the wife of Simon the Cyrenian, who was like a mother to the apostle Paul. You may recall that the first time Paul came to Jerusalem following his conversion, the Christians feared him. They were unconvinced that this powerful Pharisee was genuine; they suspected trickery. Yet the mother of Rufus took Paul in, “You just come in and stay with Rufus in his room.” Looking back to that time, Paul writes concerning her, “She is Rufus’ mother, but she is mine also.” What a lovely tribute to this warmhearted Christian mother! ¹

Application

• What will your children always remember about your sacrificial living for Jesus?
• We should always thank the women of the church for their love and compassion.

Prayer

Lord, help me to have a life that upholds Jesus everyday as Savior and Lord.