WAY OF THE CROSS

What you are about to experience is a self-guided spiritual encounter that will take you through a series of interactive prayer stations, exploring the events of Christ’s Passion – the suffering of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion and death.

We invite you to sit and take a moment to read the information and instructions on the first few pages of your Prayer Station Guide. Become familiar with the location of the stations shown on the facility map. While it is not one of the prayer stations, communion is offered within the main sanctuary. You may choose to partake of communion there before traveling to the Garden of Gethsemane (Station 1) as Christ and his disciples did that first Good Friday, or you may choose to partake of communion last (after Station 7)… it is your choice.

Before you begin the journey, take a moment to quiet your mind and prepare your heart…

• Psalm 46:10

Whenever you are ready, you may begin.  Feel free to follow along at your own pace. Scan the QR code to access the audio and text for all stations. If you need more time at any point, simply pause and resume as you move through the stations.

For your experience as well as those around you – please silence your cell phone for the duration of your time here today. You may opt to play the audio portions for each station if you are using headphones

• Matthew 26:36-46
• Luke 22:43-46

Make your way into the garden. Take in the serene sounds … the atmosphere … the peaceful ease that lulls over you. Can you imagine what His disciples’ felt like that night?

Take time to be still and pray…

“Father, I know that it is through time spent with You in Your Word and in prayer that I get to know You intimately. And yet I confess to times of apathy in my relationship with You … times I’ve chosen to sleep, watch TV, shop – allowing the busyness of life to creep in and crowd You out. Just as the disciples slept through a time when prayer was needed, I have apathetically put off my time with You. Please forgive me Lord and stir up my heart with a passion for You!”

• Matthew 26:69-75

The reality is that today, in our community, we aren’t ever really put into situations where we would be asked or forced to literally speak the words “I don’t know who Jesus is.” But there are often times when we miss opportunities to be His Light and speak for Him, acting on His commands to us. Our reasons vary from fear of man, to laziness, pride, or even being more concerned about our own comfort or gain.

Stand somewhere near the fire, and take a few moments to ponder the account of Peter’s denial. Picture Peter huddled by the fire– perhaps digging his fingers into the sandy soil and drawing in the dirt to divert his attention. Feel his anguish after he denies Christ three times and then remembers the words Jesus spoke to him just the night before. Consider how your life reflects the presence – the life and words – of Jesus, and how it may be lacking. Pray for strength in an area where His presence may be less visible, and then reach into the sand around the fire. Find a “word” from Jesus. Take it with you. Trust that it is HIS word for you today!

Take time to be still and pray…

“Jesus, there are times when, just like Peter, I have denied You. Times when I have avoided someone in need or said “yes” to lots of good things in an effort to please others – only to find myself so busy that I miss Your BEST for me. Please forgive me Lord, for not always being who I should be. Help me to embrace every opportunity that comes my way, to acknowledge Your love and Your leading in my life. Thank You for letting Your Unforgettable Words bear fruit in my life!”

• Matthew 27:27-31

A Crown, a robe of scarlet, a staff … all signs of a King … all given to the Messiah to mock His kingship. The soldiers didn’t get it. They had no clue who this God-man truly was. The crown they gave Him was made of painful thorns and driven into His skull; the mocking robe was placed on flesh that was torn and shredded by their whips; they used the staff and struck Him on the head; they spat on Him and shouted in mocking tones, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Is it not amazing that even for these soldiers whom we have come to despise as we hear the story year after year – even for them – HE DIED?

We sing the song “Crown Him with Many Crowns.” In place of a crown of thorns, how would you crown Him today?

Take a moment to touch the objects of scorn with which He was crowned. Then, on one of the paper thorns provided, write the name or the thing with which you would now crown Jesus. Choose from some part of your life, some Scripture, or from whatever most grabs your heart today. Maybe you want to crown Him with “THANKSGIVING” because of something He’s done in your life. Maybe you want to crown Him as “MY ROCK” because you’ve been fully relying on Him. You decide. YOU CROWN HIM. Then attach the thorn he wore for you to an appropriate location on the painting.

Take time to be still and pray…

“Jesus, I cringe at the pain of the thorns. I cringe at Your battered and bloodied body. But I am wounded far more deeply at the humiliation You suffered. The soldiers mocked and spat upon the Lord of Creation! Jesus, I choose to crown You ‘Lord of Lords’ and ‘King of Kings’! Thank You that You were willing to endure humiliation, pain, and even death for the joy set before You!”

• Matthew 27:11-26

Pilate symbolically and literally washed his hands – a feeble attempt to scramble out from under blame. The reality is that the blame for Jesus’ death is on each and every one of us-because of our sin. The second reality is that His blood covers every sin ever committed by a whole world full of people.

Take a moment to hold your hands in the water. Think about why Pilate wanted to distance himself from Jesus’ story. As you dry your hands, resolve to stand, to shine, to BE Jesus’ story to everyone around you. While you cannot wash away blame … remember that His blood covers a multitude of sins.

Take time to be still and pray…

“Jesus, I don’t want to distance myself from Your story, from Your life and death. I confess that my sin is real, that my sin was on Your shoulders that day as You walked the Way of Suffering. I also praise You that Your love has set me free from sin and death! Please reveal Your ways to me and grant me the gift of faith to follow You … to resemble You … to SHINE Your light everywhere I go.”

• Matthew 27:35-37
• Isaiah 53:5
• Galatians 2:20

If you’re able, find a spot to sit or lie down on the floor near the cross. Breathe deeply and recall the many things the Lord has been speaking to your heart this day. Let the sound of the pounding hammer remind you of anything the Lord has convicted you of…
It’s not pretty, is it? If we call it what it is – sin.  Boldly name it- whether it’s something prompted by your thoughts today or a sin that has been plaguing your life.

Take a slip of paper and a pen and write it down on the blank side of the slip. Then take a hammer and nail your sin to the cross, but be sure to turn your paper face down as you ready the hammer. There, on the flipside of your sin, what words of promise are looking back at you? This and so much more is what the blood of Christ has purchased for you. Carry this promise with you today in your heart.

Take time to be still and pray…

“Father, I symbolically nail my sins to the cross of Jesus Christ. I ask that You cover my sins with the blood of Jesus, and I ask that You would cleanse me and make me holy. Free me from the bondage of my sin. Thank You that You have paid the price in full for my sin. Thank You that when I ask for forgiveness, You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sin. Thank You that You pour out __________________________ in my life!”

• Luke 23:32-43

You read in the scripture passage about two criminals who didn’t know who Jesus REALLY was. Even in the final moments of his life, the one man discovered that the eyes of his heart had been opened – he truly saw the Messiah, the King, for who He IS! His reward … eternity with Jesus. In the final moments of His life, Jesus had a heart to heal the broken – a heart to reach the lost – a heart to reconcile a sinner with His Father, Creator-God!  Who are those people in your life? They probably aren’t criminals, but they NEED Jesus just the same.

Think of the names of those for whom you pray … those whose lives intersect with yours … those who need the ministry of reconciliation we can share with them. Write their names on one of the paper slips provided to take with you as a reminder to keep on praying. Light a candle – a symbol of your willingness to be a light in a dark world – and float it in the water. Say a prayer for each one of those people now!

Take time to be still and pray…

“Lord, even as You were nailed to a cross and dying, You cared about the criminals nailed to crosses on either side of You. Your desire for them was that they enter eternity with You! Lord, give me a burden for the lost like You have. I pray for the loved ones in my life who don’t know You as their Lord and Savior. Father, remove the blinders from their eyes that keep them from seeing and understanding Your truth! Prepare their hearts to hear and accept Your Word.”

• Matthew 27:57-60

Climb into the tomb, pondering the fulfilled end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Calculate the year you turned (or will turn) 33. Chances are, whether you have reached that year yet or not, if any of us were to have our lives come to a close then, each of us would be unable to say with the same confidence, “It is finished.”

Pick up a marker and place a dot on the whiteboard timeline to represent the year of your 33rd birthday. Ask God to show you something He may want you to give more attention to with however many days or years you have left on this earth. It may be a relationship, a sin struggle, a personal ministry opportunity. Commit to following in greater obedience and discernment. Then go, and leave HIS mark on the world for eternity!

Take time to be still and pray…

“Father, let me be mindful every day that You sent Jesus to become sin so that I could become Your righteousness. Thank You that my righteous standing has nothing to do with my performance because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus at the cross – not on any works of my own. But You also invite me to partner with You during my time on this earth. Would You prompt my heart, instruct my mind, and shape my life so that one day I can say with greater confidence, ‘IT IS FINISHED!’

You have just followed a journey marking the final hours of the life of our Savior. Take a few final moments to meditate on your experiences here today. You’ve been faced with some difficult, even heart-wrenching things as you’ve read, watched; and had experiences all connected to what our Savior endured in the final hours of His life on earth. You’ve also seen some words of REDEMPTION and PROMISE!

If you chose to wait for communion until last, continue into the main sanctuary and partake of the Lord’s Supper. Otherwise, return to the main foyer.

Take time to be still and pray…

“Jesus, because of You, I see my sin. Because of You, I want to deal with my sin. Because of You, my sins are paid for-I am redeemed! Because of You, I have faith, hope, life, love, truth, peace, forgiveness, grace, victory, and joy. Because of You, my life can make a difference for Your Kingdom. Thank You for WHO YOU ARE!”