Station nine: Jesus blesses the women of Jerusalem

Bible reading

A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Luke 23:27-31 (NIV)​

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Pause

When Jesus was carrying his cross he met a group of women who were crying. Jesus noticed that they were upset and blessed them. Jesus tells the women not to weep for him but to weep for themselves and for their children. Jesus knows that life is difficult. Previously when talking to his disciples Jesus had predicted his death. You can read about this in John Chapter 16. At the end of the conversation he says “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus never promises that life will be easy, but he does promise that through his death all will be renewed and Creation will be good again.

​Christians believe that when things seem impossible if you pray and ask Jesus for help he will bless you.

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Ponder

• What are you currently worried about?
  
• Who can you talk to about your worries?
  

Prayer
Lord Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept for you:
move us to tears at for all those who are suffering in our broken world.
You embraced the pain of Jerusalem, the ‘city of peace’:
bless all the nations of the world and lead us into the path of profound peace.
Amen