Matthew 27:26-32

Scripture Matthew 27:26-32
Then he released for them Barab'bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross.


Reflection
Jesus falls a third time.

Jesus fell once.
The first time for those who set the murderous wheels in motion, the inhabitants of palace and court and temple, shielded from weakness by their power, blinded by power to their weakness. He fell that they might know the power of weakness when that power and weakness are called Love.

Jesus fell twice.
The second time for those who followed and watched, dulled to life through their guilt and blindness, caught in spiritual paralysis and numb nervous energy. He fell that they might run to their merciful God.

Jesus fell three times.
The third time for us, that we might not fall. Or that falling, we might love Him whose battered brow and eyes cast the look of love our way – and who picks us up because He fell bearing a Cross of Love.

Source: Meditations on the Stations of the Cross by Dr. Ron Thomas