VIA DOLOROSA3 Israel, Jerusalem

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"Via DOROROSA" The way where the Lord Jesus Christ walked shouldering the cross which He was hung on. It means "the way of sorrow" in Latin.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Israel is built on the ruin where the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. The10th station to the 14th station are located in Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

第十留(The 10th station)

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:"They divided My garments among them,And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things. (John19:23-24)

Roman Catholic small cathedral where the Lord Jesus Christ was made to take off His clothes. We can find the 10th station climbing the stairs on the right side before passing through the entrance in Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It is relatively difficult to notice the 10th station. A stone slab appears in front immediately after passing through the entrance in Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It is said that Jesus Christ's body was laid and painted balm on the stone slab. Many pilgrims come there continuously, kiss the stone slab and wipe it with cloth. A beautiful Mosaic picture is displayed in the wall behind the stone sllab, on which the Lord Jesus Christ was took down from the cross.

第十一留(The 11th station)

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. (Luke23:32-34)

The altar in the Roman Catholic chapel where the Lord Jesus Christ was nailed on the cross. The altars of the 11-13th station are established each other side by side. In this place, The Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross two thousand years ago. The fresco of The Lord Jesus Christ nailed on the cross appears in the light above the altar of the 11th station. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." This sentence in the Gospel of Luke is the Bible part which resulted in the conversion of Captain Fuchida Mitsuo who was the commandant of Pearl Harbor attack and became a Christian evangelist after the world war Ⅱ.

第十二留(The 12th station)

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst! " Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John19:28-30)

The 12th station is decorated with the gorgeous altar which should be called the highlight in Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Under the altar, there is a rock on which they say that The Lord Jesus Christ's cross was stood. Surely, the crucified Lord Jesus Christ died in this place two thousand years ago, crying " Tetelestai" ( it means that the way of salvation by the blood on the cross has been accomplished ) There was an appearance of clergymen like the Greek Orthodox Church looking through the Bible with the thick cover by the side of the altar.The Greek Orthodox Church chapel where crucified Jesus Christ breathed His last.

第十三留(The 13th station)

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John19:25-27)

In the 13th station, there is an altar named "Stabat Mater" which was modeled after the Virgin Mary mourning the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is the original of a lot of pietas like the works of Michelangelo. John was the youngest in The Apostles, and standing with the Virgin Mary under the Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross. It is said that John lived with the Virgin Mary and took care of her, after the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.

第十四留(The 14th station)

Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. (Luke 23:50-53)

The Lord Jesus Christ was risen 3 days after buried in this place, and He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Therefore, this tomb is empty now and nothing is left. However, a lot of pilgrims form a long line to see the contents of this tomb. The ceiling in the temple is formed like a dome having a hole at the center, which reminds us of Vatican in Rome.