The Stations of the Cross began as a remembrance that pilgrims had when they were retracing Jesus’ finals steps in Jerusalem up to the hill where He was crucified. Wanting to share that practice and experience with people who couldn’t make the trip to Jerusalem, they created local stations of meditation that became in itself a tradition.
Many of us feel the weight of anxiety and fear as we journey through the current world. We are told many narratives of how it is and what is to come. During this season of Lent, we as a community look to the life and teachings of Jesus. We think that One who was in the midst of such political and empirical turmoil, who spoke the words of “Be not afraid”... and “Come to me all you are weary and carrying a heavy load, for I will give you rest”... is someone who can illuminate our desperate viewpoint. These stations are a cross-section of elements, ideas, and objects from Jesus’ journey to the cross. As you work through these stations, may you see the that we are not troubled guests in this world... that we are not forsaken... and that the good news of this season was expressed best by Jesus when He said... “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Enjoy a meditative walk around Central's campus as the work of artist Scott Erickson leads you through the Stations of the Cross.
The Stations of the Cross
There are scripture verses and meditations for you to reflect upon for each station. As you arrive at a particular station, click on the corresponding number below to expand the text.
1. Jesus Is Tempted
Verses
Matthew 26:38 "Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:36-46: "Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face rand prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Meditation
Jesus is compelled to desperate prayer. Think of Jesus’ complete honesty in prayer. Jesus calls together His friends in His most desperate time of prayer. What drives you to such a desperate time of prayer?
2. Jesus Is Betrayed
Verses
Matthew 26:50: Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.
Mark 9:31: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
Matthew 26:14-16: Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.
Meditation
The Son of God was betrayed by a friend. The Son of God was betrayed by His creation.
3. Jesus Is Condemned
Verses
John 19:15: They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
John 19:11: Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Luke 22:53: When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Luke 22:66-71: When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Meditation
Jesus submits quietly and peacefully. Jesus is condemned by religious leaders. What was their fear?
4. Jesus is Mocked
Verses
John 18:23: Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
Matthew 27:28: And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
Matthew 20:18-19: “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Meditation
What brings on our mockery? These soldiers brutalize Jesus. Possibly their common response to jewish prisoners. Imagine the Son of God being brutalized by men.
5. Jesus Is Given His Cross
Verses
John 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Meditation
The cross was a public murder device for criminals. This is how Jesus was killed. Imagine carrying the wood of the cross…up the hill to your eventual slow and public death.
6. Jesus Falls
Verses
John 12:24: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
Meditation
This station, although not found in scripture, is traditionally in three stations. It symbolizes His humanity and his ever decreasing strength as He moves towards his public death. Imagine Jesus experiencing weakness and distress in a public setting with no where to hide. Imagine the exhaustion of the last 24 hours.
7. Simon Carries Jesus' Cross
Verses
Luke 23:26: And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
Matthew 16:24: Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Meditation
Imagine being pulled from the crowd and carrying this man’s device of death. What is it like to walk alongside Jesus in this?
8. Jesus Is Stripped
Verses
Luke 23:31: For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:34: And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Meditation
Romans crucified criminals naked. Reflect on the shame of nakedness in the Garden of Eden. And the shame of nakedness in this moment.
9. Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
Verses
John 8:28: So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me."
John 12:32: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Matthew 27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Meditation
The long physical pain of crucifixion was excruciating. In fact, the word excruciating is derived from crucifixion.
10. Jesus Dies
Verses
Isaiah 53:7: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 19:30: When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Luke 23:46: Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Meditation
Jesus died. He died. Our greatest fear is death. And He was not insulated from that fear. His physical body stopped working. His friends watched Him die.
11. Jesus Is Buried
Verses
Matthew 26:12: In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
Luke 23:50-56: Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
Meditation
His friends buried Him. Have you ever buried a loved one? Imagine doing that with the one you believed was going to change the world and bring ultimate justice and healing.
12. Jesus Rises
Verses
John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Matthew 17:9: And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
Revelation 1:17-18: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Matthew 20:18-19: “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
Matthew 11:28: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
1 Peter 2:24-25: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Meditation
Consider the other side of our greatest fear. Jesus shows us that there is something beyond death.