The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death.
"Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'
Pilate addressed them a third time, 'What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.'
With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.
The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.
Luke 23:20-25"
Meditation: From Book 3, Chapter 48: The Day of Eternity and of the Miseries of This Life.
Oh how I suffer inwardly, while with My mind I consider Heavenly things, and presently a crowd of worldly things rushes
upon me while I pray.
Cast forth Your lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows,(Ps 144:6) and let all phantoms of the enemy be put to flight.
Recall my senses unto You, cause Me to forget all worldly things; grant Me quickly to cast away and despise the imaginations of sin.
Help me, O Eternal Truth,that no vanity may move Me.
Come unto Me, O Heavenly Sweetness, and let all impurity flee from before Thy face.
Pardon me also, and in Your will deal mercifully and gently with Me, so that whenever I pray, My thoughts are only of You; for I confess truly that I am continually distracted.
