Stations of the Cross-2009

Station #1 Jesus is condemned by Pilate

Ecce Homo, "Behold the man." Pilate says these words and sends Jesus to be crucified.

“What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

Pilate asked the crowd.

They all answered, “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!”

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,

and handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:22–26

Bystanders who realize what is happening.

Station #2-Floor mosaics at the place where Jesus takes up his cross

The soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross,

he went out to the Place of the Skull

(which in Aramaic is Golgotha).

John 19:16–18

Station #3- Jesus falls for a first time

For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way,

in order that he might become a merciful and

faithful high priest in service to God,

and the he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted,

he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 2:17–18

Station #4- Jesus meets his mother

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see.
Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me?
In his winepress the Lord has trampled

the Virgin Daughter of Judah.
This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears.
No-one is near to comfort me, no-one to restore my spirit.

Lamentations 1:12, 15–16

Station #5- Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry the cross of Jesus

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon,

and they forced him to carry the cross.

Matthew 27:32

Station #6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

The King will say to those on his right,

“Come,you who are blessed by my Father:

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.”

Matthew 25:34–37, 40

Station #7 Jesus falls for a second time

Doorway and sign. Valley of the shadow of death.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows,

and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:3–4

Station #8 Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Wall carving

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.

For the time will come when you say,

‘Blessed are the barren women,

the wombs that never bore and the breats that never nursed!’

Then they will say to the mountains, ‘

Fall on us!’ and to the hills ‘Cover us!’

For if men do these things when the tree is green,

what will happen when it is dry?”

Luke 23:27–31

Station #9 Jesus falls for a third time

Painted on the doorpost of station #9

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2–3

Station #10 Jesus is stripped of his garments

Pilgrim etching in courtyard of station

When the soldiers crucified Jesus,

they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares,

one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining.

This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another.

“Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,

“They divided my garments among them

and cast lots for my clothing.”

John 19:23–24

Station #11- Jesus is nailed to the cross

Cats are everywhere in Jerusalem. Silent witnesses.

When they came to the place called the Skull,

there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right,

the other on his left. Jesus said,

“Father, forgive them,

for they do not know

what they are doing.”

Luke 23:33–34

Station #11- Jesus dies on the cross

Market door. A day like another, except is wasn't.

Knowing that all was now completed,

and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled,

Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

A jar of wine vinegar was there,

so they soaked a sponge in it,

put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant,

and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said,

“It is finished.”

With that, he bowed his head

and gave up his spirit.

One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear,

bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

John 19:28–30, 34

Station #13- Jesus is taken down from the cross

Pascal lamb and victory

After this, Joseph of Arimathea,

who was a disciple of Jesus -

though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews -

asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus.

Pilate gave permission, so they came and took it away.

John 19:38

Station #14 Jesus is laid into the tomb-

Pilgrim's etching into the wall of the church of the Holy Sepulchre

Joseph of Aramathea wrapped Jesus’ body in linen cloth

and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no-one had yet been laid.

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph

and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.

But they rested on the Sabbath

in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 23:53–56