The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross

John 19: 32-34, 38

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So he came and took his body.

The end seems so quiet. No more struggle, no more to be done. Just a little clean up. The demands of the crowd have been met. Jesus is dead.

Michelangelo’s Pieta poignantly shows us the aftermath of the crucifixion as Mary holds the body of her son, Jesus. Now the ones who love Him can tend to what is left. The people who knew Him best were kept in darkness and allowed to believe and feel the impact of this death.

We know that Jesus’ death is not the end. Jesus has been lifted up and given over, but the rest of the story must wait. For now, He must be taken down and buried.

Is God asking you to wait right now? What helps you to wait?

If you’re just now jumping in, find the rest of the Stations of the Cross here.