The Way of the Cross

The Roman soldiers took Jesus into the palace of the governor and the whole troop gathered around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a purple cloak. Then, twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before Jesus and mocked him, saying, “Long live the King of the Jews!” They spat on him, took the reed from his hand and struck him on the head with it. When they had finished mocking him, they pulled the purple cloak off and dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him out to be crucified. On the way they met a man from Cyrene called Simon, and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they reached the place called Golgotha which means ‘The Place of the Skull’, they offered him wine mixed with gall. Jesus tasted it but would not drink it. There they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each should take. Then they sat down to guard him. The statement of his offence was displayed above his head and it read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” They also crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and one on his left. People passing by shook their heads and insulted him, saying, “Aha! So you will destroy the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God." In the same way the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the Law made fun of him. They said, “The man who saved others cannot save himself. ls he not the King of Israel? Let him now come down from his cross and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let God rescue him, if he wants to. Did he not say, “l am the Son of God? ” Even the bandits who were crucified with him insulted him.