Station 3 Devotional

III

Around me I see sick and lame

Strength and weakness bear no shame

When powerless to stand, your strength gave way

To love them blindly is my aim

At the third Station of the Cross Jesus falls for the first time. In the traditional Stations of the Cross, Jesus falls three times, although there is no reference to his falling in the Gospels. Perhaps these stations were included to accentuate the humanity of Christ. Isaiah 53 reminds us of the price he paid for our sin.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Reflection Question: Can you recall a time when you felt like you just couldn’t go on?

Prayer: God, who holds the pillars firm when the earth and all its people quake, thank you for holding us when we feel weak. In the name of Jesus, who put on a human body and felt his strength give way.