11th Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

The soldiers grab Jesus from behind and force him to the earth, his head banging against the wooden cross, the thorns driving again into his scalp. A soldier kneels on his arm centering his hand and wrist on the wooden crossbeam. First one arm, then the other is nailed fast, fresh blood spilling out onto the beam. Then the soldiers lift the cross up into an upright position, the weight of Jesus' body pulling on his wrists. Once in place they hammer his feet to the rough wood, and again his blood drips down into the earth.

For us and for our salvation, Jesus hangs upon the cross, his body racked with pain. He could have escaped this torture at any time, just disappeared... but didn't. This was the way it was supposed to be.

Are we as willing to accept God's will for us? Do we sense his Spirit with us as we journey through life with its joys and sorrows? Are we able to see our pain, our suffering, sickness, the disappointments or heartaches that may mark our life's journey as a part of God's plan for us? Can we offer our pain to God as a sharing in the suffering of Jesus nailed to the cross?

In our everyday lives, do our words and actions identify us with Jesus nailed upon the cross, or with the executioners standing in judgment down below?