Station 9 - Jesus Meets the Weeping Women of Jerusalem

A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:27-31 NLT)

Many times we have missed this detail along the Way of the Cross.  But Luke didn’t. He carefully noted that there were weeping women, mourning for Jesus as they followed him to Calvary.  During his year of ministry Jesus has paid particular attention to children, lepers, immigrants and women when others didn't.  Now as he approaches his final hours Jesus once more makes time for and spends his limited energy to publicly speak to these grieving women. Though it is a hard message he gives them - Jesus still loves these daughters of Jerusalem.  Apparently He loves us all.

PRAY:

Lord Jesus on your way to die for my sins you took time to break down social  barriers. In your eyes everyone matters - especially those who often get overlooked.  By your grace in my life - may every person I meet , no matter who they are, matter to me too.  In your matchless name I pray. Amen.

Station 8 - Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrene

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26 NLT)

Head wounds bleed - a lot.  The combined agony of all those lashes, the beating and that cruel crown are too much for Jesus.  His bruised and battered body can no longer bear the full weight of that cruel cross.  Seeing the prisoner falter the soldiers grab an innocent bystander and force him to bear the burden.  For the remainder of this death-march the cross is carried by a man named Simon visiting from Cyrene in North Africa.  On that original journey up to Calvary Simon was given no choice. But when it comes to bearing our own cross - our Lord invites us to join Him in that journey.  The choice is ours.  

PRAY:  Jesus you call me to carry my own cross and then you help me do it.  I’m amazed by your grace and humbled by your love.  And whenever I meet a person of color remind me that they too were included with the entire world in that fateful journey to cross.  May my love for you and others include everyone of every nation, tribe and tongue - just like yours includes me.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Station 7 - Jesus Carries His Cross

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). (John 19:16b-17 NLT)

Now this long sad journey to Calvary grows even more sad.  Soldiers force Jesus to carry his own cross - perhaps 100 pounds of solid wood.  In his weakened state the Savior now staggers and struggles under its weight. Soon he can bear it no longer.  The weight of the cross Jesus carried also included the heavy burden of the sins of the whole world - including mine.  With every labored step Jesus carries my sins and yours.

PRAY:  Lord Jesus I love You because you first loved me.  You showed that love as you carried my sins - you bore my burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone.  I am amazed, awestruck, undone by the full extent of your sacrifice.  In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Station 6 - Jesus is Crowned with Thorns

The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. (Mark 15:16-19 NLT)

Jesus endured both physical and mental torture on his way to the cross.  Highly trained robust roman soldiers beat Jesus with a whip to break his body.  They also mocked him with a scalp-piercing crown of thorns and a makeshift royal robe to break his will. Indignity was heaped upon indignity yet Jesus just took it.  He allowed it to happen not because he could not have stopped it - but because he chose not to.  Jesus endured the cross - despising its shame. "Amazing love how can it be - that Thou my God shouldst die for me."

PRAY:

So Lord Jesus right now we remember that your  physical pain and mental torture were the painful result of our selfish sinful ways. Every time I willfully transgress your moral law it is as if I add one more lash. With my name on it. Forgive me Lord as I own my part in your suffering and sacrifice. Thank you that you took it all - for me.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Station Five: Jesus is Sentenced by Pilate

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. ...But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. (Luke 23:13-15, 23-24 NLT)

Pilate really blew it. He had a chance to do the right thing with Jesus but he didn't. Pilate had a strong sense that Jesus was innocent since he understood Roman law and his wife had told him about her dreadful dream. Still Pilate caved. He chose to placate the crowd, rather than doing what he knew to be right.  Truth be told - "Pilate had the gun." He was the only one with enough authority to sentence Jesus to death, or to spare him. Pilate alone made the decision to hand Jesus over to be crucified. No wonder Pilate is the only person other than God the Father, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Mary who is mentioned by name in the Apostles Creed: "Suffered under Pontius Pilate..." The early church never wanted to forget the man most responsible for the crucifixion.  The man who chose popularity over righteousness.

PRAY:  Lord help me to listen to your voice and not the crowd's. Pilate is not the only one tempted to ignore his conscience for the sake of convenience.  So Jesus please give me the strength to obey my conscience and heed my inner moral compass no matter what the voices around me are screaming. And if and when I don't - forgive me Lord. Forgive me. Amen.

Station Four: Jesus is Denied by Peter

Station Four: Jesus Denied by Peter 
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75 NLT)
Jesus accurately predicted Peter's denial.  But Peter couldn't accept it.  He was sure Jesus had underestimated his loyalty. Of course now we know that Peter has overestimated his courage and allegiance. Just like Jesus said - our man Peter was tested three times and failed three times. And then that rooster crowed. Peter's bravado was dashed as shame and sorrow gripped his heart. Finally he saw the truth about himself. Peter needed Jesus' forgiving grace more than he realized. Which of course is the truth about me too. 

PRAY:   So Lord whenever I get a bit too full of myself - when I think of myself more highly than I ought to think - bring me back to reality. There is a lot of Peter in me. I'm overconfident in my own goodness and under-confident (if there is such a word) in yours. Help me to be faithful when tested and humble always. In Your strong Name I pray. Amen

STATION 3 - Jesus Condemned by Sanhedrin

STATION 3 - Jesus Condemned by Sanhedrin

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!” (Matthew 26:62-66 NLT)

Why did the religious leaders hate Jesus so much? What did He do to offend them so deeply? The high priest tore his garments, because he could not believe that this man standing before him was God-in-the-flesh. Jesus responds with silence. Then he basically says: "You said it!" Despite all Jesus said and did - his critics simply could not see who he really was. Maybe we religious types have a problem seeing Jesus authentically.  If I'm not careful I can turn loving Jesus into a duty and only see Him through my personal preconceptions. 

PRAY: So Jesus - help me never to miss your glory. In Your strong Name I pray. Amen.

Station Two - Judas Betrays Jesus with a Kiss

While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” (Luke 22:47-48 NIV)

In the ancient Middle East it was not unusual for a man to kiss his close friends as a sign of love and loyalty. Followers also kissed their master as a sign of respect. Which makes Judas' kiss an especially mean-spirited act of betrayal. Judas - one of the Twelve - uses a kiss to signal the soldiers as to which one they should arrest. This act alone explains why Judas remains one of the most despised men in human history. But if we fixate solely on Judas' wrongdoing we'll miss what his actions might say about us. Have we ever betrayed Jesus, not in the obvious and literal way of Judas, but in our hearts and by our actions? Have we ever confessed Jesus as Lord, only to let someone or something else take his rightful place on the throne of our hearts? I hesitate to even mention the fact that sometimes I have worshiped Jesus with my own lips with words, songs, and prayers, only to reject him with my actions. Sadly there is more than a little Judas in me. And for that I need forgiveness and grace. Don't you?
-GHT

Station One - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Jesus came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Luke 22:39-46

Growing up I always put the emphasis on the God-part of Jesus. I wasn't very comfortable with the Man-part. It felt weird to think that Jesus agonized over his impending death on the cross.  Yet Matthew, Mark, and Luke all emphasize how much Jesus agonized in the Garden. The physician Luke, even tells us that Jesus prayed so intensely that his sweat became like drops of blood. So the truth of it is that Jesus struggled in the Garden. I'm not sure how you feel about that. For me - it helps me understand that verse in Hebrews that says that Jesus “in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Wow. We have a Savior who really understands us when we are tested, weak and afraid. Jesus really does understand my human struggles.  He had his own.  - GHT

New Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross Introduction

Visit almost any Catholic church and you will find them somewhere. Typically around the perimeter of the main sanctuary. Fourteen plaques, small statues or paintings depicting the final hours of the life of Christ, known as “The Stations of the Cross.” To the uninitiated they just seem like random religious decorations, however to those who have experienced the power of walking through them in order (often called “making the Stations”) they can be a dynamic spiritual tool to deepen our appreciation of the sufferings of Christ. As a Protestant novice my first encounter with the Stations left me somewhat conflicted. I sensed the impact of walking systematically through the events of the final hours of Christ’s life on earth. But I was put off by the fact that several of the Stations were focused on non-biblical aspects of the story. I had never heard of Veronica (Station 6) and the legend of her wiping the face of Jesus. Nor did I ever read in the Bible that Jesus fell three times under the weight of the cross. I felt that something more true to scripture would have served me much better. So I was delighted to learn that someone else wanted to create Stations that were more Biblically based on the events of the final hours of Jesus’ life on earth. Back in 1991 Pope John Paul II instituted a new series of fourteen Stations of Cross, each of which was based on Scripture alone. This is the pattern I enjoy following most often.

For the next week or so I am going to post my way through the New Stations of the Cross. You are welcome to join me on this walk toward Calvary.