STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Artwork: Adam White
Voiceover: John Selman
Station #1) JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” ... They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. ~ John 19: 6, 15-17
Lord, give us the wisdom to know when we are pointing the finger at others when we ourselves are the guilty party.
Remind us when we feel better than those who cried out and accused Jesus that our shame often turns us into blame-shifters as well.
Grant us strength to turn to face our own sin and the courage to take up our crosses each day.
Amen.
Station #2) Jesus FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ~ Isaiah 53: 4-6
Lord, may we realize the depth of our own sin and the full weight of the burden that Christ carried for us.
You knew the inevitability of Christ’s sacrifice, and you still sent him to earth to save us.
Help us to understand the overwhelming love that Christ showed us in bearing our burdens and leading us, like a good shepherd, back to the arms of God.
Amen.
Artwork: Christiana Woodard
Voiceover: Kelly Sanders
Activity: The Weight of Sin
It is believed that Jesus’s cross weighed approximately 150 pounds, which he was forced to drag through the city streets after being brutally beaten and suffering blood loss. This was a huge physical burden to bear as crowds of people watched, mocked, and wept as he trudged forward.
Activity: Lift the wood before you. Be careful, it is heavy.
This beam weighs approximately 75 pounds (or about half of the weight of the actual cross). Imagine how heavy it would have felt upon his shoulders as he knew he was carrying it to the place he would die.
Imagine that this physical weight represents the weight of our own sin that we placed on Jesus’s shoulders. It was our selfishness and brokenness that led him to carry this cross on our behalf.
Artwork: Leanne Batten
Voiceover: Christine Kim
Station #3) Simon helps carry his cross:
They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. ~ Mark 15: 21
Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.
When opportunities arise to serve you and your Kingdom, may we, like Simon, recognize them and answer the call, no matter how heavy the burden.
May we know and understand the honor that it is to carry your cross for a time, because you have carried it for us all.
Amen.
Station #4) Jesus MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM:
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time, people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” ~ Luke 23: 27-31
Lord, our world is broken and in need of a Savior that it denies.
Grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.
May we be a people who speak the hard truths of the gospel in love.
Amen.
Artwork: Rachel Woolard
Voiceover: Abby Barras
Activity: Jesus Died For You
Jesus was not alone in his journey to the cross. In certain moments, he was surrounded by mourning friends and sympathetic strangers. Jesus understood the reason he was carrying his cross for the people around him - those that he knew, and those he had never met, including you.
Activity: Glue two tongue depressors together in the shape of a cross and wrap some twine to hold them together. Then, place a finger on the red stamp pad and place your fingerprint on the cross.
Jesus chose to die. He allowed himself to be accused. He refused to defend himself in court proceedings. He knew that this step was essential and that his death would act as an atoning sacrifice for us all. And while Jesus died for the sake of the whole world, he also died specifically for you. Even if you were the only one he came to save, he still would have made that choice.
Let this cross be a reminder to you that Jesus had you (specifically you) in mind as he walked to Calvary.
Artwork: Aaron Woodard
Voiceover: Dan Cranston
#5) Jesus IS NAILED TO THE CROSS:
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ~ Luke 23:32-43
Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
Call us to remember that even when Jesus was suffering the most, he was still bringing comfort and hope to others.
Remind us that no one is so far from you that you do not love them or cannot save them.
Amen.
#6) Jesus DIES ON THE CROSS:
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. ~ Luke 23:44-46
Lord, grant us trust in you that when our time on earth in ended our spirits may come to you without delay.
Show us how even in the darkest of moments, the light of your love still shines through.
Settle our hearts in this moment, as we grieve the death of our Savior, our Lord, our King.
Amen.
Artwork: Christiana Woodard
Voiceover: Angi Kane
Activity: Nailing Our Sins to the Cross
Pause here for a moment. Linger in the sorrow of what has taken place.
What sins in your life brought Jesus here? Are there certain things that you know are wrong that you still struggle to give up? What is holding you back from a deeper relationship with God? What obstacles stand in your path that you have the power to remove through Christ?
Activity: Write down something that is holding you back in your faith. It could be a sin, an unhealthy relationship, or a burden you don’t know how to carry on your own. Then, fold that piece of paper, and nail it to the cross.
This is the power of the cross. Our sins were nailed to it, covered in the blood of Jesus, and nothing in heaven or earth can remove them. The weight of them is lifted. The cost of them is paid.
Artwork: Aaron Woodard
Voiceover: Ken Winter
#7) Jesus IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS:
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
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. ~ Luke 23: 47-52
Lord, we pause and reflect on this moment of grief.
We lift up to you our own sadness and brokenness.
Lord, even in the dark spaces, even when we feel so utterly alone, we rest in the knowledge you are present and working in our lives.
Amen.
#8) Jesus IS LAID IN THE TOMB:
Then Joseph took Jesus’ body down from the cross 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.
Lord, prepare our hearts as we seek to understand the fullness of your love, poured out for us.
As we anticipate the joy of Easter morning, let us not forget this moment.
Thank you.
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you for this gift of grace.
Amen.
Artwork: Kayla Burnam
Voiceover: Alle Owen
As you leave…
If you borrowed any headsets, please return them before exiting the Courtyard. They will be sanitized and reused for other visitors to the Good Friday experience.
As you exit, there will be a few individuals from our Prayer Team available at the top of the ramp, if you would like to pray with anyone about your experience. Otherwise, feel free to gather and talk with others in the moth mural garden patio area to enjoy time together, or you can head out to enjoy the rest of your evening.
Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in our Good Friday service. This, however, is not the end of the story. We hope to see you Sunday morning, April 17, at 10 am at the Byrd Theatre for our Easter Celebration!
