XLII. The Time of the Cross
160. On the Way to the Crucifixion
17So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross. 32Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.19Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth—the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews then said to Pilate, “Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'”
22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
27And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. 28But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us.'”a
21And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
(Jn. 19:17; Lk. 23:32; Jn. 19:19–22; Lk. 23:27–30; Mk. 15:21)
a “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us.'”—Here Jesus is referring to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 when the Romans destroyed the city in response to a violent revolt of Jews seeking political independence. (See Ch. 129, fn. b, for a fuller discussion of Jerusalem's destruction.)
Jn. 19:17 cross. / cross, to the place called the place of the skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. (RSV)
Lk. 23:28 Jerusalem, weep not for (KJV) / Jerusalem, do not weep for (RSV)
Lk. 23:29 barren, and / barren, and the wombs that never bore, and (RSV) • never nursed.” (NRSV) / never gave suck.” (RSV) (187:1/2004–6)
