While Jesus’ substitutionary suffering and crucifixion means that he took upon himself whatsuffering and judgment was rightly due us; the gospel narratives of the crucifixion alsochallenges the Christian to share Christ's suffering.Via Dolorosa literally means “The Way of Sorrows”, marking the Stations of the Cross, the routethat Jesus supposedly took from Pontius Pilate’s palace where he was sentenced to death, tothe site of his crucifixion on the hill at Golgotha, beyond the city walls. Tourists & pilgrims havetraveled that road for centuries reflecting on Christ’s procession through the streets ofJerusalem since the time of the Medieval Church. They want to experience Christ’s sufferingand pain by walking in the supposedly same steps on the same streets that Christ stumbledthrough on his way to Golgotha and our salvation.Walking through a tourist area of Jerusalem can be a reflective exercise on who might haveshared the same streets throughout history. But honest reflection of the soul and one’s responseto Christ’s suffering can only happen in meditation on Scripture through prayer.A close & prayerful reflection on Matthew’s account of Jesus’ stumbling journey to his crucifixionreveals fulfillment of prophecy and two responses to Jesus and his suffering. One can either:1. Share Christ’s Suffering: Simon of Cyrene2. Save Yourself from Christ’s Suffering: the Mob, the Sanhedrin, and two Robbers[Insurrectionists]Let’s dig into Matthew’s account of Jesus’ journey from the Praetorium to Golgotha. Whiledetails on the steps taken by Jesus can be found in Luke’s and John’s gospels, Matthew wantshis readers to reflect on the different reactions of a Gentile against the religious people of God.