Stations of the Cross
It all started when…
The Stations of The Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, or “The Way of Suffering.”
Originally it was a physical road located in the Holy Land that Pilgrims would walk to remember and reflect upon the suffering of Jesus. Later, towns around the world would set up stations inside Churches and Cathedrals to reenact the journey of Jesus. Today, we will retrace the steps of Jesus in our own homes.
Wherever you are located, this will be a journey of prayer and meditation. There are 10 stations on this journey. Feel free to do them all in one evening or two each day from Monday to Friday before Easter. Each station gives you an opportunity to reflect on scripture and listen to the Holy Spirit.
There is an optional activity with each station to help make the reflection tangible. If you would like to do the activity portion, here are the supplies you will need:
Station 1: A bowl, pitcher of water, and towel
Station 2: Two popsicle sticks per person, yarn, and a sharpie marker
Station 3, 4, & 6: Popsicle stick cross from station 2 and sharpie marker
Station 5: Small amount of red (or white) vinegar in a cup
Station 7: A piece of fabric to rip
Station 8: A strip of fabric, mix of good smelling spices (cinnamon and nutmeg)
Station 9: Small pot, dirt, and a seed
A Note For Parents of Children:
Although this experience is not a “child centered” activity, we encourage you to take this journey with your child. Even if they are unable to grasp all of the details of the journey, chances are something important will stick with them. To make this a good experience for you and them, we wanted to offer some suggestions on how help engage your children on the journey.
Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death
Supplies: A bowl, pitcher of water, and towel
“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.”
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”
Matthew 27:11-26
Pilate washed his hands of his guilt. He didn’t recognize Jesus for who he was. He chose to listen to the crowd rather than his heart. Of even his wife! He was afraid of what the people would do and was afraid of losing his power and his position.
Has your action or lack of action ever condemned Jesus?
When have you let the crowd dictate your response to Him?
When have you allowed your fear or your desire to be popular or in a position keep you from doing the right thing?
Or has your desire for power stopped you from seeing Jesus or helping others recognizes him?
As Pilate did, wash your hands in the water in admission that you have also listened to the crowd for the sake of fear, power, or popularity, rather than standing for truth. Talk to God about this and ask his forgiveness.
Station 2: Jesus Takes up His Cross
Supplies: Two popsicle sticks per person, yarn, and a sharpie marker
“And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
Luke 9:22-24
What is weighing your down right now?
What burdens do you carry?
What is heavy in your life?
Shame, fear, old habits, lack of job, lack of trust, bitterness, anger, heaviness of debt, of the loss of someone or something dear…
Is there sin weighing you down that you need to give to Jesus?
Talk to Jesus about following Him. Be real about your joys and struggles in the journey. Talk to him about where you really are.
Use the yarn/ribbon and popsicle sticks to create your cross. Write your burdens on the cross with a sharpie marker. Ask Jesus to carry them for you.
Keep this cross with you for station 3, 4, 6
Station 3: Simon the Cyrene Carries the cross
Supplies: Popsicle stick cross from station 2 and sharpie marker
“As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”
Luke 23:26
Who has helped you carry your cross?
Who are the people in your life who help you make it through the tough times, the people who help you through pain, and/or the stuff that makes you sad, crazy, etc?
Write their names on the popsicle stick cross.
Thank God for these people.
Take time to pray for them.
Station 4: The Women of Jerusalem Mourn for the Lord
Supplies: Popsicle stick cross from station 2 and sharpie marker
“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”
Luke 23:27-28
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Perhaps you’ve lost a loved one recently. Perhaps you’ve lost someone or something very special to you and you need time to grieve.
Mourning is a part of living.
Mourning is a process… it takes time.
Mourning is a journey.
Are you mourning the loss of anyone or anything?
Have you ever mourned for Jesus?
Consider the loss of Jesus…
The loss the women and men who followed and loved Jesus felt as they saw him on his way to die. They thought he would ride in on a white horse and deliver Jerusalem and all of Israel from the Romans… Instead they are watching him go to a criminal’s death: death on a cross.
How would that make you feel?
Talk to Jesus about this. Take some time to mourn your losses and the losses of others: parents, children, friends, jobs, opportunities, and most of all- Jesus. Write those losses on your popsicle stick cross.
Station 5: Jesus is stripped of his Garments
Supplies: Small amount of red (or white) vinegar in a cup
“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall (vinegar); but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Matthew 27:33-37
Mocked.
Ridiculed.
Scorned.
Stripped Naked.
Jesus hangs before the world.
Baring all the blame for all we’ve done.
Suffering for each of us.
Take a sip of vinegar.
The bitterness is a symbol of Jesus’ suffering. Because of Jesus’ suffering, you no longer have to suffer. He suffered, so that you might have life, freedom, and healing.
Station 6: Jesus is nailed to the cross
Supplies: Popsicle stick cross from station 2 and sharpie marker
“Two criminals were nailed to crosses beside Jesus—one on the right and the other on the left. People walked by and shouted insults at Jesus. They shook their heads and said, “You said you could destroy the Temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross if you really are the Son of God!”
The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the older Jewish leaders were also there. They made fun of Jesus the same as the other people did. They said, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! People say he is the king of Israel. If he is the king, he should come down now from the cross. Then we will believe in him. He trusted God. So let God save him now, if God really wants him. He himself said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And in the same way, the criminals on the crosses beside Jesus also insulted him.”
Matthew 27:38-43
"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Colossians 2:13-15
Consider the burdens you’ve carried this far on your small cross.
Because Jesus was nailed to the cross, all of the sins, burdens, debt, condemnation, has been nailed to the cross with Him. All of that has been traded in and you now have LIFE! You have been made alive in Christ.
Lay your small cross at the base of a larger cross (or a tree) trusting that in Jesus’ death all that is on your cross has been given to Jesus. You can exchange it for life, love, forgiveness, and freedom.
Do you want to make that exchange?
What area of your life, do you need to trust that Jesus will bring life, love, forgiveness, and freedom?
Thank Jesus for taking your cross.
Station 7: Jesus dies upon the cross
Supplies: A piece of fabric to rip
“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).”
Matthew 27:45-46
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”
Matthew 27:50-51
The curtain of the temple was a 3 inch thick vile that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. The Holy of Holies was considered the place where God dwelled. Only the most high priest had access to the dwelling place of God But when Jesus died, this curtain ripped form the top to the bottom allowing everyone access to the presence of God!
Because of Christ’s death and work on the cross, the curtain in the temple ripped from top to bottom. You are no longer separated from God. You now have access to the Holy of Holies. You now have direct access to GOD, now and forever.
In what area of your life do you need God to enter into and transform?
Take some cloth and rip it in two. And be reminded that nothing separates you from God.
Station 8: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
Supplies: A strip of fabric, and a mix of good smelling spices (cinnamon and nutmeg)
“Late in the afternoon, since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, Sabbath eve), Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Jewish Council, came. He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout for the kingdom of God. Working up his courage, he went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate questioned whether he could be dead that soon and called for the captain to verify that he was really dead. Assured by the captain, he gave Joseph the corpse. Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, watched the burial.”
Mark 15:42-47
Take a strip of cloth and roll it in the spices. Now make a bracelet with the cloth and wear it around your wrist. Allow the smell of the spices and the strip of cloth to remind you of Jesus’ death and burial.
Wear the bracelet until you feel you’ve experienced resurrection. Maybe that will be on Easter, or maybe it will be in the next few weeks.
Station 9: Hope of Resurrection
Supplies: Small pot, dirt, and a seed
“Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
John 12:23-25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26
Christ's death is not the end of the story. Just as a seed has to die before it can spring to new life, out of death comes life. On Sunday morning we will celebrate Christ’s resurrection, a declaration that sin and death no longer have the last word. Just as Christ walked out of the grave, we too will walk out of our graves as well— in this life and the next.
For now, we hold on to hope that Jesus is who he said he was, and did what he said he was going to do.
Plant a seed in the ground as a reminder that Jesus died, but that his death brings new life to each of us!
Ask Jesus for new life in Him. Ask him to plant new life in your heart to come in and grow something new in you as you wait for his resurrection!