Welcome to the Via Dolorosa - the final journey of Jesus of
Nazareth from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, to the cross
and the tomb. Every Friday in Jerusalem, many pilgrims gather to
walk the route along which it is believed our Lord walked
himself, and the photographs which follow are all scenes which we
encountered in the Jerusalem of today as we, too, attempted to
follow in our Lord's steps. All the images you will see were
taken on an ordinary afternoon in Jerusalem as we walked along
the route of the traditional Via Dolorosa, stopping at each of
the fourteen stations. Nobody can say with total certainty that
the route, or any of the particular sites is definitely the place
at which the events of Jesus' last hours took place, but these
places have been venerated by pilgrims for many, many years, and
it is a selection of views of these stations around which we have
written this meditation.
Thus we contemplate the Via Dolorosa of today's Jerusalem.
2000 years ago, when Jesus was crucified there was a sign on the
cross - Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews - and it was
written in Greek and Hebrew and Latin, the languages which were
spoken and understood in the Jerusalem of that time. The
signposts of today's Jerusalem are written in Hebrew once again,
along with Arabic and English. Today, as it was in the time of
Jesus, Jerusalem is a city of tensions - Jew and Roman,
Palestinian and Israeli - this eternal city where God himself
dwelt and was crucified is still a battle ground. It was within
such a context that Jesus came to Jerusalem to walk the Via
Dolorosa, and it is within such a context that we must walk it
today.
'Listen, I am
casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and
on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the
next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a
prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to
it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as
a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not
willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will
not see me until the time comes when you say,
'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the
Lord.'
(Lk 13:32-35)
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first
he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was
crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the
cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ASB Collect for Lent 3)
