Station 11 Devotional

XI

The bells of San Juan set us free

And bind us in community

A hammer’s blow consigned you to your fate

The ringing resonates in me

At the ninth Station of the Cross Jesus is nailed to the cross.

“When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting

down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge

against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on

his right and one on his left” (Matthew 27:35-38).

“And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would

get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge

against him read: the king of the jews. They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right

and one on his left” (Mark 15:24-27).

“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the

criminals—one on his right, the other on his left” (Luke 22:33).

“There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the

middle” (John 19:18).

The gospels do not specifically say that Jesus was nailed to the cross, but Thomas says after he misses Jesus’s appearance to the disciples: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Peter also accuses the Jews during his Pentecost sermon by saying “and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2: 23).

Reflection Question: What has Jesus’ death freed you from?

Prayer: God, who laid down his life of his own free will, and set us free from the law of sin and death, accept our humble gratitude. In the name of Jesus, who said “If the Son sets you free you shall be free indeed.”