From the Cross to the Grave

<p> Pontius Pilate asked the Centurion to command an escort of guards around Jesus to take him to Calvary, or Golgotha, which means The place of the Skull. One of the Centurion's men put the beam on Jesus' bleeding shoulder as they left the yard and went into the crowded street. The already large crowd continued to grow, some of them followers and friends, others bitter enemies, and yet others who were just confused and angry. Jesus staggered and buckled under the weight of the beam but he continued to drag it behind him. It was the custom to write a description of the crime committed on a clay plate and fix it to the top of the cross. Pontius Pilate had written an inscription that read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS” An angry voice called out above the crowd “Who wrote that stupid inscription?”  One of the temple priests shouted back “It should say ‘He said he was king of the Jews’” Pilate stepped forward  “I wrote that inscription and it stays  as  it  is,”.</p> <p>A few paces further on Jesus staggered again but this time fell headlong to the ground. Some women rushed forward to help him and the Centurion recognized Mary, as she tried to reach out and help her son and he was touched with compassion for her. He could see blood flowing freely from Jesus now and he knew that he had to keep him on his feet. He must not let Jesus die here on the street. A burly lumbering man who, by the look of his clothing was visiting from some other region, kept close by Jesus as he stumbled forward, and the man balked now and again, as if to reach out and grasp hold of the beam, only to pull back. The Centurion called out to the man. “You, help him. He is too weak to carry that on his own.” The man from Cyrene leapt forward and took the beam. The peace that surged through his heart overcame the strain of the heavy burden, as he strode on into endless time. The trek to Calvary, with its frequent stops took just under an hour from the time the Centurion picked Jesus up in the yard. The process of crucifixion had begun, but it wou