Stations of the Cross

In the time of Lent, we focus on the gift that Christ gave through suffering by making sacrifices of our own. There are 14 intense physical events of the death of Christ that we mark with artwork around the church, as in other churches. They are as below.

This is only three days. Please remember Jesus' 33 years on earth before these days are set as an example for us, the weeks after this are the miracle that is the Resurrection, and the eternity that Jesus continues to spend with God is our goal.

Use this artwork and these reflections to remember the suffering that Christ experienced was to bring himself closer to us as a suffering humanity, and to get us closer to Himself and the Father in eternity.

Our Stations of the Cross were given in memory of the faithfully departed members of Christ Episcopal Church.

I
Jesus is condemned to Death

Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 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.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
John 19:14-16

II
Jesus takes up his Cross

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
John 19:17

III
Jesus falls the First Time

Not in Bible

IV
Jesus Meets his Mother

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:26-27

V
Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the Cross

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.
Luke 23:26

VI
A Woman Wipes Jesus Face

Not in Bible

VII
Jesus falls the second time

Not in Bible

VIII
The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus

And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. "
Luke 23:27-28

IX
Jesus falls the Third Time

Not in Bible

X
Jesus is stripped of his garments

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
Matthew 27:28-29

XI
Jesus is nailed to the Cross

And it was the third hour, when they crucified him.
Mark 15:25

XII
Jesus Dies on the Cross

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46

XIII
Jesus is taken down from the Cross

And when he learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.
Mark 15:45

XIV
Jesus is placed in the tomb

And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus saw where he was laid.
Mark 15:46-47

This is not the end.
Jesus returns, and He will return again.

As we say in the service:

Christ died.
Christ Is risen.
Christ Will come again.

Stations of the Cross Reflections

Note the circle always behind Jesus' head. This is something often seen in sacred art, and signifies a "holy glow" that some might call a halo. While this was not seen during Jesus time, it is a visual way to follow those Biblical examples, like Jesus here in this visual story.

These 14 stations are recognized by many different sects, and are revered during lent in many different ways. Some churches do Cross Walks to experience the physical and mental burden Jesus endured. Some churches do experiential stations including having a log, hammer, and nails for those practicing the stations to feel what it was like to drive nails into wood. In 1991, the "Scriptural Way of the Cross" was introduced that follows scripture more than the one above. Link Below.
The Episcopal church often chooses a more meditative and prayerful approach traditionally, often linking the reflections and led prayers to missions that God has charged us with. See links below

While Station XIV is not where the story ends (because the best is yet to come!) neither is Station I where it starts. Since these are the Stations of the Cross, this focuses much on the implementation and bearing of the actual cross, with many lessons for us just from that! Take time and read through the entire story through one or more of the four Gospels:

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John