The Third Station
Jesus falls for the first time
Isaiah 53: 6 - All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserved.
Meditation:
The procession moves out of the city gate. Jesus is unsteady on his feet. The soldiers are pushing Him. The crowd is noisy, an odd mix of crying and jeering, excitement and sorrow. Jesus is tired. He hasn’t slept or eaten in days. He has been beaten and is in pain. His heart is broken. He can hardly carry the cross. It’s heavy and awkward. He’s off balance. He falls. The soldiers yank him up. He steadies his feet. The procession is moving again.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when life gets really hard, I sometimes want to give up. Your cross was so heavy. Although it was hard for You, You never gave up. You fell, but You got up again and moved on. Help me to get up when I fall. Help me to keep moving. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.