Viadolorosa

I will never forget that day when they were leading me to calvary............

The crowds were pressing in on me. I felt claustrophobic. They were yelling and shouting, "CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM". The cross on my back was VERY heavy, and there were tears in my eyes. The tears were not just for the pain that I was in, but also for the crowds who were by this stage going frantic.

They did not know that I was doing this for THEM.

I was being pushed down a street called the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which is also known as the Street of Suffering. The soldiers were trying to clear the narrow street. I could see the crowds were interested in me (the man with the cross on his back) - looking at me (the man who was condemned to die on calvary).

I felt the blood trickle down my forehead. I also felt the blood trickle down my back, from a previous beating they had given me. Over, and over they thrashed me with that whip. Although I couldn't see my back, I knew they must have left lacerations.

With every step that I was taking, I was doing it for those who were persecuting me. Little did they realise that I was bearing their scorn. Little did they understand that I loved them. But, I chose to walk that road because I knew that it had to be done. I had to DIE for the sins of the WORLD. The weight of it was almost unbearable, but I wanted to be obedient.

The walk to my death seemed to last an eternity. At one point I fell with the weight of the cross on my back, and the people laughed. I eventually reached the place where I was to be crucified. It was called Golgotha (also known as the "place of the skull"). I could not believe the crowds that attended this gruesome event. I could already see the two men that was going to DIE beside me.

They crucified me! The pain of it alone was unlike anything I had EVER experienced in my life time. Someone gave me vinegar to drink, but I refused it. They then took my garments from me, and parted them. They cast lots for them. Gambling to see who would have my garments. They also put a sign just above my head, which read, "THIS IS JESUS KING OF THE JEWS". This was so humiliating. The crowds shouted, "If you are the Son of God, get yourself down from there". The cheif priests said to one another, "He saved others,and himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Isreal, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him". But, I knew that they didn't know what they were saying. Therefore, I just lifted my eyes heavenward and said in a low voice, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do". They did not realise that I had come to take their place, to bear their sins. My heart was crying. I wished that they could have realised. It was about the ninth hour, that I felt totally forsaken. I felt alone. I knew that the time had come. I shouted out in a loud voice, "My God, My God, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME". Shortly after this I gave up the ghost.

This was the ONLY way for man/woman to get back to GOD.

Oh! If only they could have felt the love that I had for them.
It was this LOVE that kept me.

I did this for the WORLD.   Therefore, I DID IT FOR YOU!

I LOVE YOU - I LOVE YOU

Jesus

                                                    Author: Sonya Mutch
                                             �Sonya Mutch 2001(all rights reserved)