The Way of the Cross, Stations 10, 11 & 12

As we enter Holy Week, you may wish to print the entire Way of the Cross devotional and read it daily this week. It certainly is brief enough to do so. The Introduction is here, Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 below. Part 5 will be posted Good Friday.

10. Jesus is crucified
Read Luke 23: 33-34
How can anything more happen to our Lord? Yet, the depth of the cross begins here. I am still thinking about what Simon of Cyrene witnessed following behind Jesus on that long walk to Golgatha, the Skull. Once there, was he still in earshot to hear Jesus ask the Father to forgive his executioners when they drove nails into his wrists? Did he watch Jesus pressed beyond human endurance? Did he note that when pressed what flowed out of Jesus was love? I keep remembering a few examples this past week of what came out of me when I was pressed... and pressed just a little bit. You?

11: Jesus promises His Kingdom to the repentant thief
Read Luke 23: 39-43
We do not know, but if Simon of Cyrene was eager to leave the Skull, another eyewitness takes over... the thief. At first he too joined in and hurled insults at Jesus. But sometime during the next few hours the insults stopped and out of his heart came amazingly truthful words. His words were both a plea and a statement of faith. What changed him?

12. Jesus entrusts Mary & John to each other
Read John 19: 25-27
Besides onlookers, we know standing at the foot of the cross was Jesus' mother, his mother's sister (possibly Salome), Mary wife of Clopas, Mary Magdelene, and John. We are told in Luke that Jesus' mother pondered many things of her firstborn and kept them in her heart. If you are a mother, you know this to be true. It is believed that much later she told her full story to Luke, the historian. I just wonder if, at the cross, she remembered the day Simeon told her, "a sword shall pierce your heart too." This was that day.

References: Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire, ESV Study Bible