Last week I had several conversations that all led to the same place, I’m not one to ignore a good theme so I paid attention, it is too easy for us to skip from Palm Sunday to Easter and forget about Holy Week. Hear me out, one Sunday we are celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the next we’re focused on (spoiler alert) his resurrection, and if we aren’t careful we miss all the important details of Holy Week. Thankfully, Baylor Spiritual Life has encouraged us to think through Holy Week this year by unveiling an art installation, “Stations of the Cross” by Stefan Robinson. Take a moment on this Good Friday to pray through the Stations of the Cross after reading the Scripture attached to each station.
Station 1: Jesus prays alone.
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.” Matthew 26:39
Station 2: Jesus is betrayed.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Mark 14: 44-46
Station 3: Jesus is condemned to death and denied by Peter.
“Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. … [Peter] began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Mark 14: 63-64, 71
Station 4: Jesus is judged by Pilate, scourged, and crowned with thorns.
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 slapped him in the face. John 19:1-3
Station 5: Jesus carries his cross.
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). John 19:17
Station 6: Jesus speaks to the crowd of women.
Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. … For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Luke 23:28, 31
Station 7: Jesus is crucified.
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, 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 8: Jesus dies.
…darkness came over the whole land… 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
Praise God this is not where the story ends, but this is where we are to sit on Good Friday. At this moment in the story, Jesus has died. We are encouraged to sit in this knowledge. Follow this prayer from the Common Book of Prayer.
“Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your
family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be
betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer
death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”