Station 2 – Jesus takes up the Cross

"They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him." -Matthew 27:28-31

They mocked him. Ironically, they called him King of the Jews, gave him a robe and scepter and crown, and knelt before him. The king who was never honored as king. Then they stripped him and beat him. They mocked him and humiliated him; they had no respect for this man. 

How many people are mocked and bullied? How many are flippantly ignored and disrespected? How often have I been the one mocking another? We are all valuable. Every person deserves basic respect. Every person deserves to have their human dignity acknowledged instead of stripped away.