Luke 23:27-31 – 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

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There was much weeping as the procession took place. It is likely that this great multitude wasn’t spurring on the soldiers but they were saddened by the religious leaders who ensured that Jesus would die. Matthew 21:45-46 says, “45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.” It seems the crowds regarded Jesus as a prophet while it was the religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead. Jesus takes time as he walks to talk to those who are weeping. His warning is that things will not get easier. There will continue to be persecution. This death that Jesus is about to experience isn’t the end of the story for humans. There is more to this story that comes to a head on Easter morning, but the pains and uncertainties and sadnesses of life will remain.

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Take a look at this painting entitled Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary, by Raphael, c. 1514-16. What stands out to you as you look at the painting? Why do those things resonate with you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Station 10