Station 7: Jesus Bears His Cross

Freshly crowned, King Jesus is sentenced to crucifixion. He is given his own cross and forced to carry it to the place of his execution. It is a brutal and bloody scene.  

As you read today’s Scripture passage remember that Jesus invited us to carry our own cross (Matthew 16:24). He invited us on this particular journey with him. With that in mind read today’s scripture below.  

When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him." ... They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.

(John 19: 6, 15-17)

In response to the reading from John go find something in your home that has some weight to it. Hold that thing in your hand. Consider how it feels heavy even in the brief moments you are holding it. As you feel its weight consider the weight of the cross that Jesus bore for you. How he carried that heavy cross up a hill for us. 

As you reflect pray that God would forgive you for the things you have done. Thank him for the depth of his love that he shows us day after day. Then close with the following prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you for bearing your cross for us. Thank you for enduring the shouts of those around you. Today I have considered the weight that you bore and I grateful that you bore it for me. Help me to pick up and carry my cross today. That I may lose my life in order to find it. Amen.