BIBLE STUDY LESSON 13

SERIES T --- THE ADONAI OF LIFE

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS

From Matthew 27:27-34; Mark 15:16-23; Luke 23:26-33; John 19:16, 17

After Yeshua was delivered to be crucified, the Roman soldiers took Him back into the Praetorium where they gathered the entire Roman Cohort. They stripped Yeshua, and put a kingly robe upon Him and a crown of thorns, and placing a reed in His right hand as a mock sceptre, they knelt before Him to ridicule Him. [Hail, King of the Jews!] they mocked, hitting His head with the reed and spitting on Him. They also bowed before Him in mock worship. When the soldiers finished mocking Yeshua, they took the kingly robe from Him, put on His other garments, and led Him to be crucified. Along the way, they forced Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry Yeshua’ cross. Simon had just arrived from the countryside. Crowds of people followed, with women mourning and weeping for Him. But Yeshua told the women, [Do not weep for Me, daughters of Jerusalem, but weep for yourselves and your children. A time is coming when women with no children will be more fortunate than those with children. People will beg the mountains to fall on them and cover them. If men treat Me, the source of life, this way, how will they treat you?] Two others, who were criminals, were led away with Yeshua to be put to death with Him at a hill called Golgotha, which meant, {The Skull.} There they crucified Yeshua and the two criminals, one at His right and the other at His left. Yeshua was offered wine mingled with myrrh, a drug to dull the senses and relieve the pain, but He refused to take it.

COMMENTARY

THE VIA DOLOROSA

From the Antonia fortress, where Pilate condemned Him to die, Yeshua went through the city streets to Golgotha. The path He followed has come to be known as the Via Dolorosa, the {Way of Sorrows.} The traditional route of the Via Dolorosa assumes that Golgotha was at the site now occupied by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Many believers through the ages have accepted this route, and this location of Golgotha as the authentic ones. Many believers accept the site known as {Gordon’s Calvary} as the authentic place of Yeshua’ crucifixion. This is just north, and slightly to the east, of the Damascus Gate, adjoining the lovely garden which is considered by many to be the garden tomb where Yeshua was buried. No one knows for sure which route is correct. But in either situation, the route that Yeshua followed is not at street level today, for the streets of Old Jerusalem are built upon the rubble of past centuries. The street level of Yeshua’ day would be about eight to ten feet below today’s streets.

VIA DOLOROSA -- THE WAY OF SORROWS

STATION ONE
Today three modern buildings cover the place where the Antonia fortress once stood. Although the first two stations are now on opposite sides of the street, they both commemorate events which took place in the courtyard of the Antonia. The first station on the grounds of the El-Omariye School marks the traditional site of Yeshua’ condemnation by Pilate.

STATION TWO
The second station is opposite the El-Omariye School in the Franciscan Bible School. According to tradition, this is the place where Yeshua was commanded to pick up His cross.

STATION THREE
Although the Gospels do not tell us that Yeshua fell under the weight of the cross, tradition has fixed this incident on the spot marked today by the Polish Chapel.

STATION FOUR
Mary was present at her Son’s crucifixion, but the New Testament does not mention where she joined the sad procession that followed behind Yeshua. The fourth station marks the traditional place where Mary stood when she saw her Son carrying His cross on the way to Golgotha.

STATION FIVE
The fifth station commemorates Simon of Cyrene. Although he was only an innocent passerby, the Roman soldiers forced him to carry the heavy cross when Yeshua became too weak to bear it Himself.

STATION SIX
According to an ancient believer’s legend, Veronica, one of the women who followed Yeshua, risked the blows of the Roman guards in order to wipe the blood and sweat from Yeshua’ face.

STATION SEVEN
At this spot tradition has located Yeshua’ second fall when He had become too weak to take another step. During the first century a gate stood near this spot. Through it the road led out of Jerusalem and past the hill of Golgotha.

STATION EIGHT
On the wall of the Greek monastery of Charalambos, a cross marks the place where many believe that Yeshua paused to speak to the women of Jerusalem. He warned them not to shed tears for Him but to mourn for themselves. The day was soon coming when Jerusalem would be in ruins and its temple destroyed.

STATION NINE
The last station outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is identified as the place where Yeshua fell for the third time. Today the stone column which marks the spot has been built into the doorway of the Coptic Church.

STATION TEN
Inside the church a steep flight of stairs leads to the tenth station. A mosaic floor now covers the rocky hillside where Yeshua was stripped of His robe in preparation for His crucifixion.

STATION ELEVEN
An altar marks the place where Yeshua was nailed to the cross. The soldiers drove stakes through His hands and feet before erecting the cross on the hilltop where everyone could jeer at the condemned Man.

STATION TWELVE
A silver disc on the floor beneath the altar marks the place where Yeshua died on the cross. Through the hole in the centre you may touch the rock of Golgotha where the cross once stood.

STATION THIRTEEN
At station thirteen Yeshua’ body was removed from the cross and prepared for burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. when they had wrapped Him in linen layered with spices, they buried Him in Joseph’s own tomb.

STATION FOURTEEN
The last station marks the grave from which Yeshua arose on Sunday morning. Today the tomb is enclosed in a small chapel that stands alone under the high domed ceiling. Inside, a slab of marble marks the place where Yeshua lay.