Session 4: Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate Icebreaker: If you ...€¦ · majesty to attract us to him,...
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Page 1 24 Hours that Changed the World Session 4: Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate Icebreaker: If you had been at Jesus’ trial, with which character would you have most likely identified – Pilate, the crowd, Barabbas or someone else? Class Informal Poll: Is our world full of a people who typically favor love or violence? Opening Prayer (Volunteer) The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:1-3, 11-14) And all God’s people said… Amen.” Our Biblical Foundation – Mark 15:1-15 (2 Volunteers) * All scripture citations are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise specified. Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Transcript of Session 4: Jesus, Barabbas and Pilate Icebreaker: If you ...€¦ · majesty to attract us to him,...
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24HoursthatChangedtheWorldSession4:Jesus,BarabbasandPilate
Icebreaker:IfyouhadbeenatJesus’trial,withwhichcharacterwouldyouhavemostlikelyidentified–Pilate,thecrowd,Barabbasorsomeoneelse?ClassInformalPoll:Isourworldfullofapeoplewhotypicallyfavorloveorviolence?
OpeningPrayer(Volunteer)
TheLordismylightandmysalvation—whomshallIfear?TheLordisthestrongholdofmylife—ofwhomshallIbeafraid?Whenthewickedadvanceagainstmetodevourme,itismyenemiesandmyfoeswhowillstumbleandfall.Thoughanarmybesiegeme,myheartwillnotfear;thoughwarbreakoutagainstme,eventhenIwillbeconfident.Teachmeyourway,Lord;leadmeinastraightpathbecauseofmyoppressors.Donotturnmeovertothedesireofmyfoes,forfalsewitnessesriseupagainstme,spoutingmaliciousaccusations.Iremainconfidentofthis:IwillseethegoodnessoftheLordinthelandoftheliving.WaitfortheLord;bestrongandtakeheartandwaitfortheLord.(Psalm27:1-3,11-14)
AndallGod’speoplesaid…Amen.”
OurBiblicalFoundation–Mark15:1-15(2Volunteers)
*AllscripturecitationsarefromtheNewInternationalVersion(NIV)unlessotherwisespecified.
Veryearlyinthemorning,thechiefpriests,withtheelders,theteachersofthelawandthewholeSanhedrin,madetheirplans.SotheyboundJesus,ledhimawayandhandedhimovertoPilate.2“AreyouthekingoftheJews?”askedPilate.“Youhavesaidso,”Jesusreplied.3Thechiefpriestsaccusedhimofmanythings.4SoagainPilateaskedhim,“Aren’tyougoingtoanswer?Seehowmanythingstheyareaccusingyouof.”5ButJesusstillmadenoreply,andPilatewasamazed.
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6Nowitwasthecustomatthefestivaltoreleaseaprisonerwhomthepeoplerequested.7AmancalledBarabbaswasinprisonwiththeinsurrectionistswhohadcommittedmurderintheuprising.8ThecrowdcameupandaskedPilatetodoforthemwhatheusuallydid.9“DoyouwantmetoreleasetoyouthekingoftheJews?”askedPilate,10knowingitwasoutofself-interestthatthechiefpriestshadhandedJesusovertohim.11ButthechiefpriestsstirredupthecrowdtohavePilatereleaseBarabbasinstead.12“WhatshallIdo,then,withtheoneyoucallthekingoftheJews?”Pilateaskedthem.13“Crucifyhim!”theyshouted.14“Why?Whatcrimehashecommitted?”askedPilate.Buttheyshoutedallthelouder,“Crucifyhim!”15Wantingtosatisfythecrowd,PilatereleasedBarabbastothem.HehadJesusflogged,andhandedhimovertobecrucified.
24Hours(AdamHamilton)VideoSegmentandDiscussion
• WhydoyouthinkearlyChristiansdevelopeddevotionalexercisessuchastheStationsoftheCross(seeattached)?AndwhydowestillparticipateinsuchexercisestodayasChristians?
• WhatcanyouimaginefeelingasyoufollowbehindsomeonecarryingacrossalongtheViaDolorosa?
• Inwhatwaysarewestillpresentedwiththeopportunitytoconfrontourculturebychoosingthewayoflove(Jesus)orthewayofviolenceorbaringarms(Barabbas)?
• WhatdoyousupposemadethewayofBarabbassoappealingtothepeopleatthattime?(Hint:thinkintermsoftheimmediateresultshepromisedasopposedtowhatChristpromisedthem.Areweoftentimesguiltyofchoosingimmediatesatisfactionoverlong-termsatisfaction?)
24Hours(AdamHamilton)BookSegment(s)andDiscussion
[FromChapter4of24HoursthatChangedtheWorld]
AshehadatthetrialbeforetheSanhedrin,JesusremainedvirtuallysilentbeforePilate,whowasastoundedathisunwillingnesstodefendhimself.PilateknewthechiefpriestswereaccusingJesusoutofenvy—Jesuswasbecomingmorepopularthantheywere,andtheirfearandinsecuritydrovetheirhatred—butwhy,hewondered,wasn’tJesus
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defendinghimself?HewaschargedwithclaimingtobekingoftheJews,acapitaloffense.CaesarwaskingoftheJewsnow,andclaimingthattitlewasasignofrebellion.WhenPilateaskedJesus,“AreyoutheKingoftheJews?”(Mark15:2a),Jesusgaveashortandcrypticanswer:“Yousayso”(Mark15:2b).Jesusmighthavebeensaying,“Yes,ofcourse,Iam.”Hemighthavemeantsimply,“Youhavespoken,andIamnotgoingtodisagreewithyou.”Buthedidnotelaborate.InMatthew,Mark,andLuke,JesusdidnotsayanotherwordtoPilate.Andso,Pilatemusthavewondered,“Whyisn’thespeaking?”(page63).• WhydoyouthinktheSynopticGospels(Matthew,Mark,andLuke)showJesus
choosingnottospeakindefenseofhimself?• Whyarehisactionssoseeminglycontrarytowhatwewoulddotoday?(Orare
they?)
Jesuswasofferinghimselfasasacrificiallambforthesinsoftheworld.Hisdeath,Christiansbelieve,wasredemptive.Itwaspurposeful.Jesusdidnotdieadisillusionedprophet.HewasnotsimplyagreatteacherputtodeathbytheRomans.HechosetogotoJerusalem,anticipatingandevenpredictingtohisdiscipleshisdeath.ChristiansbelievethathisdeathwasthevehiclebywhichGodsavedtheworld….TheologianshavelongwrestledwithhowwearetounderstandthedoctrineoftheAtonement—thatis,theat-one-mentofGodandhumankind,ourreconciliationwithGodthroughJesus’deathonthecross.Mostthoughtfulpeoplewrestlewiththequestion.ItisdifficultforustocomprehendfullyatfirstglancehowthedeathofJesusbringsaboutoursalvation;itissomethingofanenigma(page65).
• HowdoyouexplaintheconnectionbetweenJesus’sufferingandtheworld’s
salvation?• Whataboutthedoctrine(s)ofAtonementdoyoustruggletocomprehend?
Matthewmakesclearthecrowdwasbeinggivenachoicebetweentwomessianicfigures.Ifyoupictureyourselfaspartofthatcrowd,whichonedoyoupick?Oneisgoingtoleadbyforce;throwouttheRomans;reclaimyourtaxmoney,wealth,andprosperity;andrestorethestrengthoftheJewishkingdom.Theother’sleadershipinvolveslovingthesesameoppressors,servingthemastheydwellamongyou,doublingtheservicetheydemandofyou….JesusasksustochoosehiswayoverthewayofBarabbas;butIalsoknowthatwhilemanyadmireJesusofNazareth,theyfeelsaferwith,andprefer,JesusBarabbas.ThatwasthechoicePilategavethecrowdtwothousandyearsago:thepopularrevolutionaryJesusBarabbas,whowouldchangetheworldthroughpower,orJesusofNazareth,wouldchangetheworldthroughsacrificiallove.Thecrowdshouted,“ReleaseBarabbasforus!”(Luke23:18)Hadyoubeenstandingtherethatday,whomwouldyouhavechosen(pages73-75)?
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• Consideringthestateofourworldtoday,whatkindofmessiahdoyouthinkpeoplewouldchoose?
• Whomwouldyouchoose?Why?• “Badboys(andgirls)”or“goodboys…”lookingatthosewhohaveachieved
“iconic”statusamongstpeopletoday,whodowetendtochoose?• HowarewetohandlePilate’sactions?Theactionsofthecrowd?• Whyisitsoeasyto“goalongwiththecrowd”asPilatedid?HowdoChristians
dothesamethingtoday?
ReflectionfromGod’sWordIsaiah52:13-53:12
13See,myservantwillactwisely;hewillberaisedandliftedupandhighlyexalted.14Justasthereweremanywhowereappalledathim—hisappearancewassodisfiguredbeyondthatofanyhumanbeingandhisformmarredbeyondhumanlikeness—15sohewillsprinklemanynations,andkingswillshuttheirmouthsbecauseofhim.Forwhattheywerenottold,theywillsee,andwhattheyhavenotheard,theywillunderstand.
53:1WhohasbelievedourmessageandtowhomhasthearmoftheLordbeenrevealed?2Hegrewupbeforehimlikeatendershoot,andlikearootoutofdryground.Hehadnobeautyormajestytoattractustohim,nothinginhisappearancethatweshoulddesirehim.3Hewasdespisedandrejectedbymankind,amanofsuffering,andfamiliarwithpain.Likeonefromwhompeoplehidetheirfaceshewasdespised,andweheldhiminlowesteem.4Surelyhetookupourpainandboreoursuffering,yetweconsideredhimpunishedbyGod,strickenbyhim,andafflicted.5Buthewaspiercedforourtransgressions,hewascrushedforouriniquities;thepunishmentthatbroughtuspeacewasonhim,andbyhiswoundswearehealed.
6Weall,likesheep,havegoneastray,eachofushasturnedtoourownway;andtheLordhaslaidonhimtheiniquityofusall.7Hewasoppressedandafflicted,yethedidnotopenhismouth;hewasledlikealambtotheslaughter,andasasheepbeforeitsshearersissilent,sohedidnotopenhismouth.8Byoppressionandjudgmenthewastakenaway.Yetwhoofhisgenerationprotested?Forhewascutofffromthelandoftheliving;forthetransgressionofmypeoplehewaspunished.9Hewasassignedagravewiththewicked,andwiththerichinhisdeath,thoughhehaddonenoviolence,norwasanydeceitinhismouth.10YetitwastheLord’swilltocrushhimandcausehimtosuffer,andthoughtheLordmakeshislifeanofferingforsin,hewillseehisoffspringandprolonghisdays,andthewilloftheLordwillprosperinhishand.11Afterhehassuffered,hewillseethelightoflifeandbesatisfied;byhisknowledgemyrighteousservantwilljustifymany,andhewillbeartheiriniquities.12ThereforeIwillgivehimaportionamongthegreat,andhewilldividethespoilswiththestrong,becausehepouredouthislifeuntodeath,andwasnumberedwiththetransgressors.Forheborethesinofmany,andmadeintercessionforthetransgressors.
• TheGospelaccountsseemtosuggestthatJesussawaconnectionbetweenhissufferingandIsaiah’svisionofthe“sufferingservant.”AndasAdamHamiltonmentionsinthebook(page64),theearlychurchalsomadethatconnection.
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Whatyouhavejustreadisreferredtoasthe“fourthServantSong.”HowdothesewordssupportorgivemeaningtothestoryofJesus’suffering?
John18:28-38ThentheJewishleaderstookJesusfromCaiaphastothepalaceoftheRomangovernor.Bynowitwasearlymorning,andtoavoidceremonialuncleannesstheydidnotenterthepalace,becausetheywantedtobeabletoeatthePassover.29SoPilatecameouttothemandasked,“Whatchargesareyoubringingagainstthisman?”30“Ifhewerenotacriminal,”theyreplied,“wewouldnothavehandedhimovertoyou.”31Pilatesaid,“Takehimyourselvesandjudgehimbyyourownlaw.”“Butwehavenorighttoexecuteanyone,”theyobjected.32ThistookplacetofulfillwhatJesushadsaidaboutthekindofdeathhewasgoingtodie.33Pilatethenwentbackinsidethepalace,summonedJesusandaskedhim,“AreyouthekingoftheJews?”34“Isthatyourownidea,”Jesusasked,“ordidotherstalktoyouaboutme?”35“AmIaJew?”Pilatereplied.“Yourownpeopleandchiefpriestshandedyouovertome.Whatisityouhavedone?”36Jesussaid,“Mykingdomisnotofthisworld.Ifitwere,myservantswouldfighttopreventmyarrestbytheJewishleaders.Butnowmykingdomisfromanotherplace.”37“Youareaking,then!”saidPilate.Jesusanswered,“YousaythatIamaking.Infact,thereasonIwasbornandcameintotheworldistotestifytothetruth.Everyoneonthesideoftruthlistenstome.”38“Whatistruth?”retortedPilate.WiththishewentoutagaintotheJewsgatheredthereandsaid,“Ifindnobasisforachargeagainsthim.
• HowwouldyoucharacterizeJesus’responsehereinlightofthewordshechooses(orperhapslackthereof)?Whydoyousupposeheisso“short”withPilatewhohastheabilitytosparehislife?
Acts3:11-26WhilethemanheldontoPeterandJohn,allthepeoplewereastonishedandcamerunningtothemintheplacecalledSolomon’sColonnade.12WhenPetersawthis,hesaidtothem:“FellowIsraelites,whydoesthissurpriseyou?Whydoyoustareatusasifbyourownpowerorgodlinesswehadmadethismanwalk?13TheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacob,theGodof
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ourfathers,hasglorifiedhisservantJesus.Youhandedhimovertobekilled,andyoudisownedhimbeforePilate,thoughhehaddecidedtolethimgo.14YoudisownedtheHolyandRighteousOneandaskedthatamurdererbereleasedtoyou.15Youkilledtheauthoroflife,butGodraisedhimfromthedead.Wearewitnessesofthis.16ByfaithinthenameofJesus,thismanwhomyouseeandknowwasmadestrong.ItisJesus’nameandthefaiththatcomesthroughhimthathascompletelyhealedhim,asyoucanallsee.17“Now,fellowIsraelites,Iknowthatyouactedinignorance,asdidyourleaders.18ButthisishowGodfulfilledwhathehadforetoldthroughalltheprophets,sayingthathisMessiahwouldsuffer.19Repent,then,andturntoGod,sothatyoursinsmaybewipedout,thattimesofrefreshingmaycomefromtheLord,20andthathemaysendtheMessiah,whohasbeenappointedforyou—evenJesus.21HeavenmustreceivehimuntilthetimecomesforGodtorestoreeverything,ashepromisedlongagothroughhisholyprophets.22ForMosessaid,‘TheLordyourGodwillraiseupforyouaprophetlikemefromamongyourownpeople;youmustlistentoeverythinghetellsyou.23Anyonewhodoesnotlistentohimwillbecompletelycutofffromtheirpeople.’24“Indeed,beginningwithSamuel,alltheprophetswhohavespokenhaveforetoldthesedays.25AndyouareheirsoftheprophetsandofthecovenantGodmadewithyourfathers.HesaidtoAbraham,‘Throughyouroffspringallpeoplesonearthwillbeblessed.’26WhenGodraiseduphisservant,hesenthimfirsttoyoutoblessyoubyturningeachofyoufromyourwickedways.”
• Inthissermon,Petertwiceusestheterm“servant”torefertoChristandreferstotheprophet’spredictionthatthismanwouldsuffer.RecallthatinActs8:26-39,PhilipalsoidentifiesChristwiththe“sufferingservant”ofIsaiah53totheEthiopianeunuch.WhydoyouthinkitwassoimportantforthefirstChristianstoacknowledgeanOldTestamentcontextforJesus’sufferinganddeath?
• HowdoesPeter–presentingJesusasthe“sufferingservant”–proposeadifferenttypeofMessiahfortheintendedaudience?
• HowhasPeterchangedsincethelasttimewespokeofhimatthe“rooster’scrow?”
PuttingThingsinPerspective[Optional–iftime]
Imaginethatyouarecriminalguiltyofmurderandsedition.Youhavejustbeensetfreebecausesomeoneyouhavenevermetisabouttobecrucifiedinyourplace.Whatareyouthinking?Whatdoyoudonext?
ClosingPersonalPrayerandBenedictionOurPrayerRequests:
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Benediction(Volunteer)
AndtheGodofallgrace,whocalledyoutohiseternalgloryinChrist,afteryouhavesufferedalittlewhile,willhimselfrestoreyouandmakeyoustrong,firmandsteadfast.Tohimbethepowerforeverandever.Amen(1Peter5:10-11).
ForNextTimeInpreparationfornextweek:
• ReadoverMark15:15b-23afewtimesandrecord(ortakementalnote)ofanyobservations,questionsorthoughtsthatcometomind.
• WhatisyourunderstandingoftheroleofChrist’shumiliationandsufferingaspartofGod’soverallplanofredemptionoftheworld?
• AsyouconsiderthehorribleatrocitiescommittedagainstChrist,howdoesitcauseyoutoconsideryourowncapacityforinhumanacts(andattitudes!)directedtowardsanother?Howdoesithelpyoutoguardagainstsuchacts?
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TheScripturalWayoftheCross(1991,PopeJohnPaulII)Beforeeachstation,thefollowingstatementsweremade:Minister:Weadoreyou,OChrist,andwepraiseyou.All:Becausebyyourholycrossyouhaveredeemedtheworld.TheScripturaltextsusedateachoftheStationsfollows(UsingtheNewAmericanBiblewithRevisedNewTestament):FirstStation:JesusintheGardenofGethsemaneThenJesuscamewiththemtoaplacecalledGethsemane,andhesaidtohisdisciples,"SitherewhileIgooverthereandpray."HetookalongPeterandthetwosonsofZebedee,andbegantofeelsorrowanddistress.Thenhesaidtothem,"Mysoulissorrowfuleventodeath.Remainhereandkeepwatchwithme."Headvancedalittleandfellprostrateinprayer,saying,"MyFather,ifitispossible,letthiscuppassfromme;yet,notasIwill,butasyouwill."Whenhereturnedtohisdiscipleshefoundthemasleep.HesaidtoPeter,"Soyoucouldnotkeepwatchwithmeforonehour?Watchandpraythatyoumaynotundergothetest.Thespiritiswilling,butthefleshisweak."(Matthew26:36-41)SecondStation:JesusisbetrayedbyJudasandarrestedWhileJesuswasstillspeaking,Judas,oneoftheTwelve,arrived,accompaniedbyacrowdwithswordsandclubs,whohadcomefromthechiefpriests,thescribes,andtheelders.Hisbetrayerhadarrangedasignalwiththem,saying,"themanIshallkissistheone;arresthimandleadhimawaysecurely."Hecameandimmediatelywentovertohimandsaid,"Rabbi."Andhekissedhim.Atthistheylaidhandsonhimandarrestedhim.(Mark14:43-46)ThirdStation:JesusiscondemnedbytheSanhedrinWhendaycamethecouncilofeldersofthepeoplemet,bothchiefpriestsandscribes,andtheybroughthimbeforetheirSanhedrin.Theysaid,"IfyouaretheMessiah,tellus,"butherepliedtothem,"IfItellyou,youwillnotbelieve,andifIquestion,youwillnotrespond.ButfromthistimeontheSonofManwillbeseatedattherighthandofthepowerofGod."Theyallasked,"AreyouthentheSonofGod?"Herepliedtothem,"YousaythatIam."Thentheysaid,"Whatfurtherneedhavewefortestimony?Wehavehearditfromhisownmouth."(Luke22:66-71)FourthStation:JesusisdeniedbySt.PeterNowPeterwassittingoutsideinthecourtyard.Oneofthemaidscameovertohimandsaid,"YoutoowerewithJesustheGalilean."Buthedenieditinfrontofeveryone,saying,"Idonotknowwhatyouaretalkingabout!"Ashewentouttothegate,anothergirlsawhim
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andsaidtothosewhowerethere,"ThismanwaswithJesustheNazarene."Againhedenieditwithanoath,"Idonotknowtheman!"AlittlelaterthebystanderscameoverandsaidtoPeter,"Surelyyoutooareoneofthem;evenyourspeechgivesyouaway."Atthathebegantocurseandtoswear,"Idonotknowtheman."Andimmediatelyacockcrowed.ThenPeterrememberedthewordthatJesushadspoken:"Beforethecockcrowsyouwilldenymethreetimes."Hewentoutandbegantoweepbitterly.(Matthew26:69-75)FifthStation:JesusisjudgedbyPontiusPilateThechiefpriestswiththeeldersandthescribes,thatis,thewholeSanhedrin,heldacouncil.TheyboundJesus,ledhimaway,andhandedhimovertoPilate.Pilatequestionedhim,"AreyouthekingoftheJews?"Hesaidtohiminreply,"Yousayso."Thechiefpriestsaccusedhimofmanythings.AgainPilatequestionedhim,"Haveyounoanswer?Seehowmanythingstheyaccuseyouof."Jesusgavehimnofurtheranswer,sothatPilatewasamazed....Pilate,wishingtosatisfythecrowd,releasedBarabbasandhandedJesusovertobecrucified.(Mark15:1-5,15)SixthStation:JesusisscourgedatthepillarandcrownedwiththornsThenPilatetookJesusandhadhimscourged.Andthesoldierswoveacrownoutofthornsandplaceditonhishead,andclothedhiminapurplecloak,andtheycametohimandsaid,"Hail,KingoftheJews!"Andtheystruckhimrepeatedly.(John19:1-3)SeventhStation:JesusbearsthecrossWhenthechiefpriestsandtheguardssaw[Jesus]theycriedout,"Crucifyhim,crucifyhim!"Pilatesaidtothem,"Takehimyourselvesandcrucifyhim.Ifindnoguiltinhim."...Theycriedout,"Takehimaway,takehimaway!Crucifyhim!"Pilatesaidtothem,"ShallIcrucifyyourking?"Thechiefpriestsanswered,"WehavenokingbutCaesar."Thenhehandedhimovertothemtobecrucified.SotheytookJesus,andcarryingthecrosshimselfhewentouttowhatiscalledthePlaceoftheSkull,inHebrew,Golgotha.(John19:6,15-17)EighthStation:JesusishelpedbySimontheCyreniantocarrythecrossTheypressedintoserviceapasser-by,Simon,aCyrenian,whowascominginfromthecountry,thefatherofAlexanderandRufus,tocarryhiscross.(Mark15:21)NinthStation:JesusmeetsthewomenofJerusalemAlargecrowdofpeoplefollowedJesus,includingmanywomenwhomournedandlamentedhim.Jesusturnedtothemandsaid,"DaughtersofJerusalem,donotweepforme;weepinsteadforyourselvesandforyourchildren,forindeed,thedaysarecomingwhenpeoplewillsay,‘Blessedarethebarren,thewombsthatneverboreandthebreaststhatnevernursed.'Atthattime,peoplewillsaytothemountains,‘Falluponus!'andtothehills,‘Coverus!'forifthesethingsaredonewhenthewoodisgreenwhatwillhappenwhenitisdry?"(Luke23:27-31)
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TenthStation:JesusiscrucifiedWhentheycametotheplacecalledtheSkull,theycrucifiedhimandthecriminalsthere,oneonhisright,theotheronhisleft.[ThenJesussaid,"Father,forgivethem,theyknownotwhattheydo."](Luke23:33-34)EleventhStation:JesuspromiseshiskingdomtothegoodthiefNowoneofthecriminalshangingtherereviledJesus,saying,"AreyounottheMessiah?Saveyourselfandus."Theother,however,rebukinghim,saidinreply,"HaveyounofearofGod,foryouaresubjecttothesamecondemnation?Andindeed,wehavebeencondemnedjustly,forthesentencewereceivedcorrespondstoourcrimes,butthismanhasdonenothingcriminal."Thenhesaid,"Jesus,remembermewhenyoucomeintoyourkingdom."Herepliedtohim,"Amen,Isaytoyou,todayyouwillbewithmeinParadise."(Luke23:39-43)TwelfthStation:JesusspeakstohismotherandthebeloveddiscipleStandingbythecrossofJesuswerehismotherandhismother'ssister,MarythewifeofClopas,andMaryofMagdala.WhenJesussawhismotherandthediscipletherewhomheloved,hesaidtohismother,"Woman,behold,yourson."Thenhesaidtothedisciple,"Behold,yourmother."Andfromthathourthediscipletookherintohishome.(John19:25-27)ThirteenthStation:JesusdiesonthecrossItwasnowaboutnoonanddarknesscameoverthewholelanduntilthreeintheafternoonbecauseofaneclipseofthesun.Thentheveilofthetemplewastorndownthemiddle.Jesuscriedoutinaloudvoice,"Father,intoyourhandsIcommendmyspirit";andwhenhehadsaidthishebreathedhislast.(Luke23:44-46)FourteenthStation:JesusisplacedinthetombWhenitwasevening,therecamearichmanfromArimatheanamedJoseph,whowashimselfadiscipleofJesus.HewenttoPilateandaskedforthebodyofJesus;thenPilateorderedittobehandedover.Takingthebody,Josephwrappedit[in]cleanlinenandlaiditinhisnewtombthathehadhewnintherock.Thenherolledahugestoneacrosstheentrancetothetombanddeparted.(Matthew27:57-60)
