We know Roman practice was to have the condemned carry their own crosses to the site of crucifixion. Jesus carries the weight of His own Cross on His shoulders, and upon that Cross is heaped the weight of all of our sins. My sins cost Him this humiliation. And now the weight of those sins crushes down on Him with every step.

Suddenly, Jesus falls.

The weight of the Cross is too much. The beatings had weakened Him to the point of collapse—carrying the Cross was more than could be expected. He cannot bear it. He is on the ground, and He knows what it is to feel defeated, weak, unable to go on. And yet, He must go on. The soldiers pick Him up and force Him to continue.