X. Jesus is stripped.
Behold the wood of the Cross…
Pause and hold your heart and the world in your hands.
There’s a lot going on here. Scholars and historians say that unlike the crucifixes we see in our churches and homes, where Jesus discreetly wears a loincloth, the Roman practice was, in fact, to strip the convicted men completely and to crucify them buck naked.
The Romans understood that the Jews were a modest people, so what better way to humiliate their criminals than this public exposure of their bodies? This Station is about stripping Jesus not just of His clothes, but also of His dignity. This is about the terrible humiliation and helplessness that He experienced on the cross.
When was the last time you felt humiliated and helpless, when you felt subjected to prying eyes and murmuring voices?
Take a moment to recall that experience and how you felt.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience at all, and wouldn’t you have done everything possible to prevent such things from happening?
But true to His nature, our Lord allowed Himself to be subjected to this indignity. And why? Again to demonstrate and make us witness His unconditional love. He is telling us:
“No matter what you do to me, nothing will ever diminish my love for you.”
Listen to the song “Grenade” and imagine the Lord speaking the words to you.
Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and prayers below.
One reply on “The Tenth Station”
Very powerful lyrics song!
Piercing my being…