The Sixth Station of the Cross: Paying the Price

Courtesy: Vatican Museum

"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they struck him in the face." - John 19:1-3 (NIV)

To me, being flogged and humiliated like this is almost as bad as the crucifixion, especially after seeing the depiction of this scene in the "Passion of the Christ." I remember watching this scene, nearly tearing up as I saw the cruelty of the Romans as they inflicted blow after blow (For others, the tears freely flowed).

As I saw this, it brought home just what a price Jesus Christ paid for us. Remember, in the eyes of God, He had done nothing wrong. He had not sinned. In the eyes of the authorities, at least outside of the Pharisees and religious leaders of the time, He had done nothing wrong. Even Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Palestine, found no fault in Him, at least one worthy of punishment.

In the celebration of the Stations of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the minister prayed this prayer:

"Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise."

Christians throughout the ages have demonstrated this willingness to suffer for their faith, and yet still offer praise. Many still do so today. Jesus demonstrated the way to put up with the suffering, because He knew the final outcome. He knew that in the end, God will win (start with the book of Revelation). He knew He would rise from the dead and continue to live to this day.

That is true faith and true courage, having that kind of knowledge and living by it.

(Editor's note: This is part of a series of the Stations of the Cross.)