THE THIRD STATION

JESUS FALLS

THE FIRST TIME

 

We adore you, O Christ,

and we bless you

Because by your holy cross

you have redeemed the world.

 

FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE

The book of Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely, he has borne our griefs,​

and carried our sorrows.

But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities.

Upon him was the chastisement

that made us whole,

and with his stripes

we were healed.

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Let us contemplate

Jesus as he falls

under the weight of the Cross.

The merciless scourging

from the Roman soldiers

has left him weakened.

The wounds on his back 

add to Jesus' struggle

to bear his cross,

and with each stride

he is pierced

with the pain

of this journey.

As he collapses to the ground,

all Jesus can see are the feet

of those who swarm

around him in ridicule.

As Jesus hears

their jeers and slander,

let us together consider him

silently reciting the follow

words of Psalm 35.

​

PSALM

But at my stumbling 

they gathered in glee,

they gathered together

against me;

cripples whom I did not know

slandered me without ceasing;

they impiously mocked

more and more,

gnashing at me

with their teeth.

​

You have seen, O Lord,

be not silent!

O Lord,

be not far from me!

Vindicate me,

O Lord, my God,

according to your righteousness;

and let them not

rejoice over me!

-Psalm 35:15-16, 22, 24

​

HYMN

For his people's sins rejected,

Saw her Jesus unprotected.

Saw with thorns, with scourges rent.

​