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The following was sent to me by a Muslim brother who requested to remain anonymous, may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him.
The Second Treatise of the Great Seth:
The manuscripts traces back to the second and fourth century CE. Theological analysis reveals a crucifixion account taken from the Basilides.
And the plan which they advised about me to release their error and their senselessness- I did not succumb to them as they had planned. But I was not afflicted at all. Those who were there punished me. And I did not die in reality but in appearance, lest I be put to shame by them because these are my kinsfolk… For my death which they think happened, (happened) to them in their error and blindness, since they nailed their man unto their death… for they were deaf and blind… Yes, they saw me, they punished me. It was another, their father, who drank the gall of the vinegar, it was not I. They struck me with the reed; it was another, Simon, who bore the cross on his shoulder. It was another upon whom they placed the crown of thorns… And I was laughing at their ignorance… For I was altering my shapes, changing from form to form.
The message is clear, it was not Jesus rather it was Simon the Cyrene who was crucified.
(http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/2seth.html)
Simon The Cyrene:
As we learned from the Second Treatise of the Great Seth, Simon the Cyrene bore the cross instead of Jesus. Actually, this very idea could be even demonstrated by examining the current canonical gospels.
New American Bible:
Mark 15:"
21 They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
22 They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull).
23 They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it.
24 Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take.
25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him."
Luke 23:"
26 As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
28 Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children,
29 for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.'
30 At that time people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'
31 for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"
32 Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed.
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him [Jesus] and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." They divided his garments by casting lots."
Now considering the two reading above, we note the following:
1) Simon carried the cross of Jesus. No where does it say that Jesus bore it also at the same time.
2) The above never mentioned that the cross was given back to Jesus
3) If we trace the word "him" in Luke 23:33, we notice the word "Jesus" next to it. However, this word was placed instead of the word "him" to remove the confusion that may occur while reading the above. An average reader could possibly understand the word "him" as referring to Simon not Jesus himself.
Also, a useful quotation about what the NAB Bible theologians say about Luke 23:34 may help understand the case ahead.
[34] [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."]: this portion of Luke 23:34 does not occur in the oldest papyrus manuscript of Luke and in other early Greek manuscripts and ancient versions of wide geographical distribution.
The word "him" could actually refer to Simon. When considering the points outlined above, any reader could read it as if it is referring to Jesus, but he could as well read it and understand as if it is referring to Simon. However, this could give us a clue as to why some Christian sect who existed prior to the departure of Jesus believed that it was Simon not Jesus who bore the cross and eventually crucified.
The lie of crucifixion according to several Disciples' writings.