The Via Dolorosa: Station 13

Written by Nate in Site

Jesus is taken down from the cross (Mark 15:46).

The Stone of Unction (also known as the Stone of Anointing) is considered to be the slab of stone that Jesus was laid upon when his body was removed from the cross before being transferred to the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.

Unfortunately, the stone only dates back to the early 1800s AD when it was placed in the Church after some repairs. But like the Via Dolorosa itself, it has a traditional meaning to it.  And it represents a part of the journey which Jesus took to the tomb.

Does the Stone of Unction Matter?

If we think about all the things along the Via Dolorosa that we’ve seen so far, some things have biblical backing, and some don’t. Although it may be disheartening to hear that a religious tradition might not have the luster it’s said to have, think about what it is. Does the Stone of Unction matter in the grand scheme of things? I would argue that it does not.

Of all the stations we see on the Via Dolorosa, the ones that matter the most are the rock of Golgotha (Station 12) and the tomb (Station 14). And as we’ve recently discussed, there is good reason to believe that both the tomb and the rock are legit. They were both known to the early Christians living in Jerusalem. And when Hadrian erected the temple to Venus, it marked the spot for over 200 years.

After the temple was removed, and the rock and tomb were found, they were preserved and set apart. But compared to Christ Himself, the rock and tomb are also meaningless. They are just organic props in a larger story.

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