Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Luke 23:27-31
27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30"Then ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
27A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30"Then ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Reading
“Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” That’s what he said to them. All kinds of people were following Jesus on his way up that hill. There were residents of Jerusalem, travelers, politicians, religious leaders, children, and women as well.
It is these women, following along behind, who were crying out. The scripture doesn’t elaborate on why they may have been so upset. Many of them may have followed Jesus for quite some time. Others may have simply been sensitive to the crucifixions, devastated over any loss of life.
Jesus takes this moment, these few seconds during his march up the hill, to clarify the situation for them. He turns the tables. How could these women move in one moment from sorrow for him, to sorrow for themselves?
Should we be crying for Jesus at this moment? Or ought the tables turn for us too? Is there a greater tragedy in what unfolds in our lives? He said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” We are the children of those women. We lament this – that we worship Christ crucified but often we cannot see our own part in it.
“Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” That’s what he said to them. All kinds of people were following Jesus on his way up that hill. There were residents of Jerusalem, travelers, politicians, religious leaders, children, and women as well.
It is these women, following along behind, who were crying out. The scripture doesn’t elaborate on why they may have been so upset. Many of them may have followed Jesus for quite some time. Others may have simply been sensitive to the crucifixions, devastated over any loss of life.
Jesus takes this moment, these few seconds during his march up the hill, to clarify the situation for them. He turns the tables. How could these women move in one moment from sorrow for him, to sorrow for themselves?
Should we be crying for Jesus at this moment? Or ought the tables turn for us too? Is there a greater tragedy in what unfolds in our lives? He said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” We are the children of those women. We lament this – that we worship Christ crucified but often we cannot see our own part in it.
Interaction & Reflection
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An artist created this painting reflecting on this station. Feel free to create and interact with artistic elements that are available for you as you reflect on this station. You may take them with you or leave them for others to enjoy.