7th Scriptural Station of the Cross

Jesus bears His cross. (John 19: 6, 15-17)

Prepare your setting. Take a few deep breaths and exhale slowly. Set your timer.

Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Then: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Invite Jesus to visit with you. Tell Him of any concerns that are on your mind.

“Read” the image. What strikes you? What is happening? What objects and symbols do you notice? Ponder the messages. I’ll share my thoughts [in brackets], but your thoughts are what matter.

[Oh, I don’t like the expression of Jesus’ face at all. He looks so frightened, like He’s getting ready for the next blow. On holy cards of my childhood, He didn’t appear this way; again, I suppose, because children would be frightened. But as a human, He would be frightened. Or would He? I guess I don’t like Him reacting as a man. Maybe I want Him to act like a hero in movie. I need to think more about Jesus being “fully God and fully man”. This really bothers me.

The yellows (traitors; negative people) and orange-red (fire; fires of hell maybe?) colors predominate. Jesus is in black. That’s interesting. There’s enough red to remind us of sacrifice, but Jesus is in black. I never saw Him depicted in that color that I remember. It is symbolic of sin. He is literally taking the sins of the world on His back, on His whole body that will be sacrificed so our sins don’t keep us out of heaven.

Everyone looks so mean, even the horse on the left and the passersby. Do they even know what’s going on or are they joining in on the hatred because “it’s the thing to do”. That reminds me of hating people because they believe different things politcally. I hate it. Our country is going to pot because of it. It also reminds me of the abuse of animals, kind animals that warped humans train to fight. Or children who are taught the same.

There are different headdresses too; helmet, turban, hats. And skin tones. I like when paintings included people of different races and cultures. Jesus came for everyone. We all sin. We all need Jesus to save us. And God made everyone. How can we not like the variations of people God made? We’re all made in His image and likeness. Could we create better? Variety is the spice of life, anyway. It’s all our differences that make us attractive. Everybody the same would be boring. I remember hearing that in high school but I’ve experienced it. It’s true.

There is a building in the back. It doesn’t look like a temple. Maybe it’s where the Roman leaders are staying, again showing they are behind all this cruelty to Jesus. The blue sky is blotted with black. Sin is increasing as they beat Jesus, even as He carries His cross to crucifixion. Amazing, the sin debt is increasing while He is actively trying to save us, like cutting the top of a wound deeper while the surgeon is trying to close the bottom of the wound.]

Meditate. Talk to God about the image, how you feel and why. Wrestle with Him about your questions until you have nothing else to say.

Pray. Lord Jesus, grant us strength of purpose, that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day. Add more to this prayer if you care to.  

Contemplate. Relax. Breathe deeply. Enjoy God’s presence. Let Him speak through your senses, thoughts, imagination until the timer rings.

Write something to keep in your heart until your next prayer session.

Thank Jesus for visiting with you. End with the Sign of the Cross. Amen.

Thank you for joining us for this meditation. I look forward to praying with you again at the next Station.