The nineth Station: JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME.
Jesus face down in the dirt, bleeding into the dust, wracked with pain. Were You humiliated by the taunts and jeers of the crowd? I see You've fallen on the stones again. Are the stones symbolic of my heart, cold and hard as I sometimes can be, even towards You? But when You fall on that hardened place something gives way. Your suffering, Your gentle way, Your forgiving gaze, Your submission is melting my stoney heart. My resistance gives way. Your winning me over Jesus! Oh how You must love me to suffer like this! I believe! Now You have suffered more than enough! Let go of the cross and come home, back to Your Father who loves You.
But Jesus You don't let go of the cross. You've become one with the wood. You cling to Your burden. All Your effort is spent on making Yourself stand upright. You do it to amid a torrent of sweat amd blood running from YOUR face and body. You intend to go on. The most difficult part of the journey is still ahead of You. I see Your legs are trembling from weariness. Jesus what is driving You to continue on up the hill towards even greater tortures and humiliations?
All besought Me, "Lay the cross down! Let go. Let go!"
But the strength of a Lover's passion, they did not know. ~Jesus
