Weep for Yourselves

The path that began at the Antonia Fortress, where Pilate sentenced Jesus, and ended at Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified is commonly known as the Via Dolorosa, the road of suffering. Before Jesus began this half mile trek he was severely flogged by the Romans, to such an extent that he was barely alive. Due to Jesus' weakened condition he was unable to carry his cross, so they forced Simon of Cyrene to carry it. In a moment that must have startled everybody, Jesus turned and said to those who were mourning over him along the Via Dolorosa, "Weep for yourselves and for your children…" He then described the judgment that would come upon that generation. We may not see it at first, but there was a message of hope in what Jesus said, because until the judgment comes there is always time to repent and turn to Christ in faith.