stations 2020Contemplating the cross

encountering Jesus

Stations is a self-directed, reflective time intended to put our focus on the cross of Jesus and our own journey with him.

There are 8 of the Stations of the Cross in this booklet, and the intent is that you drive to the stated locations around town and park there while you do the reflection for that station in the booklet. For each of the stations, this booklet contains:

• a reflective reading • instructions for what to do at the station • and a scripture reading

What you need to bring with you: • a handful of coins • some paper, scissors, and a few pens • some bread & juice for Communion

Take your time as you go through the stations. There is no set start or end time, so take your time, slow down, and allow God to speak to you as you invest this time with him.

Feel free to do this as an individual or a family, respecting current isolation guidelines.

If, at some point during your journey through stations, or after you’re done, you’d like to process some of this with a pastor or pray through a particular issue, please feel free to reach out.

Before you begin, take a minute (or longer if needed) to breathe, and then quiet yourself before Jesus and ask him to meet you as you go through this experience today.

And now your journey begins…

STATION1

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park (Park on 17th)

Our journey begins in a garden, where Jesus went to pray with his friends, the disciples, after they had eaten a meal together. In the garden, Jesus prayed about what was going to happen to him next. He felt a lot of anxiety as he prayed, but knew he had to make a choice. In the garden, as he prayed, Jesus chose to do what God was asking; chose to be the sacrifice for our sins; chose to die. From this point on, he walked toward the cross.

Jesus once said, “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.” Jesus was like a seed that needed to die in order to give us life.

As you consider the new growth that is going to come in the next few months at this beautiful park, think about the choice Jesus made to give his life in order to accomplish something greater!

Scriptures for Reflection:

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Matthew 26.36-41

I tell you the truth, 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. - John 12.24

STATION2 Jesus, Betrayed by Judas Victoria Street looking at the Banks

After Jesus spends this time in prayer, Judas enters the garden with a crowd of men, walks up and kisses the cheek of Jesus. The kiss meant that this man was the Jesus they were looking to arrest. It was an act of betrayal. Jesus had chosen Judas to be his friend, his disciple but in the end, Judas chose money over Jesus.

We are no different. How often have you betrayed him? We choose our own desires and our own ways over his perfect love for us. We, like Judas, have betrayed Jesus.

Dig out a handful of coins and as you hold them consider how you, like Judas, have chosen other things before Jesus. Lay the coins down as a symbol of your desire to put Jesus first.

Scriptures for Reflection:

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. - Luke 6:12-16

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. - Isaiah 53.1-3

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. - John 12.3-6

STATION3 Jesus is condemned to death Prince George Courthouse (3rd & George)

After being betrayed in the garden, Jesus was put on trial by his own people, accused of crimes, and condemned to death – even though he was innocent. He had not done anything wrong, but was treated like a criminal. Then Jesus was sent to Pilate, the Roman leader of the area. Pilate had heard Jesus was called a king of his people, but he wanted to hear it from Jesus, so he asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Pilate never did really figure out what he thought of Jesus, but he didn’t want to be responsible for what happened to him, so he washed his hands of Jesus, and let the people do as they wanted. Unlike Jesus, we’ve all made choices that make us guilty and deserving punishment. But Jesus chose to take our punishment on himself. Even though we are guilty, he was condemned on our behalf.

The courthouse reminds us of the trials that were held against Jesus. In a God twist, although we are found to be guilty, Jesus is the one condemned with a sentence of death. Spend some time confessing your guilt before God and then thanking Jesus for taking the punishment for you.

Scriptures for Reflection:

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. "If you are the Christ, " they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You are right in saying I am." Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."

- Luke 22.66-71

“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!”

- Matthew 27.22-24

STATION4 Jesus is flogged and crowned with thorns Timbers HUB Ministry Centre Parking Lot (1553 3rd Ave)

Alone, mocked, and beaten. Consider the thorns pressed into his skull a mockery not only of who he is but also of his pain. He does not try to escape it, but endures it and is plunged into the darkness of our human suffering. His commitment to entering into our lives completely begins its final steps.

Think about this scene. There is no pain, suffering or struggle that Jesus does not understand or is not willing to bear. He chose this pain for you. As you look on the wall painting of Jesus consider what pain have you faced or are you facing? Talk to the Lord about it.

Scriptures for Reflection:

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. - John 19.1-3

Reading for Reflection: Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross. He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He, who in Jordan set Adam free, receives blows upon His face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear. We venerate Thy Passion, O Christ. Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection. - 15th Antiphon of the Matins

STATION5 Jesus bears the cross Drive Up University Hill (park at top)

After being beaten, Jesus was forced to carry the cross. He had to carry the heavy wood that would be used to kill him. But the weight of the wood really didn’t compare to the weight of all our sin that he carried with him. As he walked to his death, he was carrying all our guilt and sin with him, ready to deal with it once and for all.

In life, our sin often weighs us down. Whether it’s the guilt we feel about a bad choice or a way we’ve hurt someone, or whether it’s the shame we feel as we face the consequences of our choices. Sin weighs us down.

Imagine climbing this hill with a back pack weighing 100lbs on your back. Now imagine that your back is cut open and bleeding. As as you walk, the weight pushes down and the pack rubs against your wounds. This weight and pain is still far less than the burden and pain of the sin we carry. Consider that Jesus took our sins on himself. Spend time thanking him for his gift.

Scripture for Reflection:

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). - John 19.6, 15-17

 

STATION6 Jesus is crucified The Look Out on University Hill

As Jesus hung on the cross, he lovingly looked down on those that watched him. He knew their sins and he knew his death was the only way that their sin could be dealt with. So much so that just before his death he asked God to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing. At the same time, He carried the punishment for our sins with him to the cross. Now is our chance to say exactly what he carried for us – our sins, our brokenness – things done, and things not yet done.

Take some time to look out on the city and think about the sin of all those that live in Prince George, and then consider your own sin – the choices you’ve made that fail to meet God’s standards, that don’t live up to who he created you to be. Write those things down and take them home and either shred the paper or burn it as a visual reminder that he has taken those sins from you by your confession.

Scriptures for Reflection:

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

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53.4-6

STATION7 Jesus speaks to his mother and disciple In the Car before you drive

As he hung on the cross, Jesus looked down and saw his mother standing near one of his disciples, and he asked them to love one another like a mother and son. Jesus’ love does not end with us, but shines through us to others.

Think about the love that Jesus has shown you. Who has Jesus asked you to love? At this time there are many that need encouragement. Consider making a heart with “Lakewood Alliance is praying for you” (or whatever church you attend:) and go and stick it to the window of a seniors home. Or write a note of encouragement to someone that God is laying on your heart and drive it to their house and leave it in their mailbox.

Scriptures for Reflection:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. - John 19.25-27

 

STATION8 Jesus dies on the cross and is placed in a tomb Prince George Cemetery 3300 Memorial Park Lane OR on Landsdowne

It is finished!! The path of pain and suffering that began in the garden with a decision ended at the cross. At any point during his trial, beatings and betrayals, Jesus could have stopped it all and walked away. But he didn’t. His love, God’s love, for us drove him to endure all that pain and humiliation so that we could be free. Free to know Him, free to love him, free to walk this life without the penalty of sin. Free to be ourselves, the way he made us, because he delights in us. Free to serve Him by serving others without concern of what others think but with hearts that want to please him.

Communion is a tradition that Jesus taught his friends to do before he died. He taught them at their last meal together to share wine and bread in a special way so that they would remember the gift that he gave them (and us) by dying on the cross.

We drink wine (or juice) together to remember the blood that he bled on the path to his death and on the cross. It is his blood that washes us clean from all the ugly, dark spaces of our hearts that we cannot clean up on our own.

We eat bread together to remember his body that was beaten and bruised for us; his body that died for us.

If it’s your desire to walk in relationship with Jesus and accept his payment for the penalty of your sin, take communion together with others if they are in your car.

We have walked to the cross with Jesus, thinking about his choice to walk this road and take the penalty for our sin upon himself. We’ve seen how he was betrayed, unfairly convicted, beaten, humiliated, and hung on a cross to die. We’ve seen him show love through it all. Now, we leave him in the tomb.

Perhaps in journeying through these stations, we can wonder, “What now?” For Jesus, we’ll pick up his story on Sunday. For us, perhaps the story of what he’s done in us will continue in ways we can’t now understand. But may we be open to whatever he will do in the days ahead.

Scriptures for Reflection:

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

- Luke 23.44-46

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

- Matthew 27.57-60