The Stations

of the Cross
ancient Christian practices series.

“And whoever does not

take up his cross and
follow me is not worthy of
me.”
- Matthew 10:38

The Stations of the Cross
History of the Stations of the Cross
Ever since Christ’s death on the cross, scores of Christians have
traveled to Jerusalem to retrace his steps as He carried His cross from
Pilate’s home to Golgotha.1 Each station is a different moment in
Christ’s journey to His crucifixion. The number of stations range from
7 to 37; however, there is no established number of stations. To this
day, there are 14 stations around the walls of almost every Catholic
sanctuary. This particular version of the Stations of the Cross removes
the non-biblical traditional stations and adds other biblical moments in
Christ’s crucifixion. The Stations of the Cross are typically practiced
during Lent, but can be practiced any day of the year.
Purpose
To prayerfully reflect on the suffering of Christ and how Christ’s
crucifixion impacts our lives today.
Practice
The Stations of the Cross trace the journey taken by Jesus from the
moment He was condemned to death to the victorious moment of His
resurrection.2 There are sixteen stations along the way for you to stop,
read, pray, and contemplate Christ’s sacrifice for all humanity.
1. Find a quiet place and establish a sense of inner peace and
tranquility – Put away all worries, concerns, aimless thoughts, etc
2. Pray - Ask God to be present during this time, to reveal His Word to
you in a powerful way, and to remove any remaining distractions that
would hinder you from fully experiencing the Stations of the Cross.
3. Read and pray through the Stations of the Cross – Take time to
consider each station. Allow the Scripture passages and prayers to
resonate deep within you.
1
Tony Jones, The Sacred Way, 137 (2005).
2 3
Jones, 139
4. Recite the Lord’s Prayer - “Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth
as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.]”
5. Journal your experience - When you complete the sixteenth
station – take a few moments to journal your thoughts, ideas,
questions, and meditations – and most importantly thank Jesus for
the sacrifice He paid for all mankind.
The Stations
Stations of the Cross…
Jesus is condemned to death
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!" All the people
answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" Then
he released Barabbas to them. (Matthew 27:24-26a) [Mark
15:6-15; Luke 22:18-25; John 19:1-16]
O Lord, may I be moved by this journey. May I make this journey
with you and you with me. Do not leave me alone on this way, even
though your own followers abandoned you at your hour of need. You
were without sin, yet they released a criminal that you might die. We
adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world. Amem.3
Jesus is scourged
[Pilate] had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be
crucified. (Mark 15:15b) [Matthew 27:26]
All loving God, you endured such pain that we might not have to
endure eternal pain. You were wounded for our transgressions and
Jones, 139
by your stripes we are healed. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless
you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.4
Jesus is mocked
Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and
gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They
stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted
together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a
staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked
him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and
took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After
they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own
clothes on him. (Matthew 27:27-31) [Mark 15:16-20]
Lord of hosts, you could have called down chariots of fire from heaven
to destroy the soldiers that mocked you. Yet you opened not your
mouth and endured utter humiliation. We adore you, O Christ, and we
bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Amen.5
Jesus receives His cross
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull
(which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). (John 19:17)
O Lord God Almighty, you bear the weight of the whole world – you
bore the weight of all my sins, and, though they wearied you, you
carried them all the way to your death. We adore you, O Christ, and
we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Amen.6
Simon helps Jesus carry the cross
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who
was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him
4
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
5 7
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
6 8
Jones, 139
and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26) [Matthew
27:32; Mark 15:21]
Dear Lord, teach me to suffer with you, make it pleasant for me to
suffer for your sake. And when my time comes to bear the cross, give
me the courage and strength of Simon to step forward and do my
part. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy
cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.7
The women mourn for Jesus
A large number of people followed him, including women
who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to
them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for
yourselves and for your children. For the time will come
when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the
wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!'
Then " 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to
the hills, "Cover us!" ' For if men do these things when the
tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:27-
31)
O Jesus, the cross is so commonplace in our world – around necks,
hanging on walls, in cemeteries. Remind me what an awful torture
you had to endure, so that I, too, might weep over your death when I
see a cross. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by
your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.8
Jesus is offered wine with myrrh
There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but
after tasting it, he refused to drink it. (Matthew 22:34) [Mark
15:23]
O Faithful Lord, you refused the soldiers attempts to poison you that
you might not have to endure the cross. At many points you could
have evaded the horrendous pain of the cross – yet endured it for all
Jones, 140
Jones, 142
of mankind. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by
your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.9
Jesus is nailed to the cross
And they crucified him. (Mark 15:24) [Matthew 27:35; Luke
23:33; John 19:18]
O Jesus, dear Jesus, though you never sinned, you hang there on the
cross. I should be there, not you. You hang there in my place. We
adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you
have redeemed the world. Amen.10
Jesus is stripped of His garments
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes,
dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the
undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in
one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to
one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This
happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
"They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my
clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. (John 19:23-24)
[Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34]
Lord Jesus, you withstood the mocking and derision heaped upon you,
and you faced your fate with dignity. May I, too, stand with courage
when all is stripped from me. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless
you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.11
Pilate declares Jesus is King of the Jews
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many
of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was
crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in
Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews
9
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
10
Jones, 143
11
Jones, 142
protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but
that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." Pilate
answered, "What I have written, I have written." (John 19:19-
22) [Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38]
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you truly are the King, O Jesus!
Though others denied your authority may I recognize it and submit
wholeheartedly to you. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you
because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.12
Jesus is mocked from the cross
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their
heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the
temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross
and save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests and the
teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He
saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! Let this
Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross,
that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also
heaped insults on him. (Mark 15:29-32) [Matthew 27:38-44;
Luke 23:34-43]
O Jesus, on every level you experienced such pain – physically,
emotionally, and spiritually – forgive me for all the times I mock you
by willfully sinning and resubmitting you to the pain of the cross. We
adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world. Amen.13
Jesus speaks to His mother
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)
12
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
13
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
Dear Jesus, what did you think when you saw your mother there? Give
me the steadfast faith she had, and the courage to stay by your side,
even when others abandoned you. We adore you, O Christ, and we
bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Amen.14
One criminal turns to Jesus
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him:
"Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other
criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since
you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for
we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done
nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the
truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
Jesus, even in the midst of pain there is joy and hope. One criminal
turned to you and repented of his sin and is now with you for eternity.
O Lord, help me to see hope in the midst of pain. We adore you, O
Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have
redeemed the world. Amen.15
Jesus dies on the cross
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. The centurion,
seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this
was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered
to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their
breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including
the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a
distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:44-49) [Matthew
27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41]
14
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
15
Adapted from Tony Jones The Sacred Way
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to
be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the
bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked
Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first
man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the
other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was
already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the
soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden
flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given
testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells
the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These
things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not
one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture
says, "They will look on the one they have pierced." (John
19:28-37)
Father in Heaven, what did you feel as your Son died upon that cruel
piece of wood? As Jesus descended into hell for three days – what
did it feel like to experience separation from your Son for the first
time? We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your
holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.16
Jesus is laid in the tomb
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.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there
opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27:57-61) [Mark 15:42-47;
Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42]
Give me the trust, O Christ, that your plans are higher than mine.
For even when all seems lost, you’re still at work. Death is not the
final word for you, Son of Life. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless
16
Jones, 143
you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. Amen.17 Date: ___/___/______

The tomb is empty The Stations of the Cross

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his
Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said,
"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know empty tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will
where they have put him!" So Peter and the other disciple you respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple
outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and
looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into
the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the
burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He
saw and believed. (John 20:1-8) [Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-
13; Luke 24:1-12]

My heart rejoices, Jesus, that the tomb could not hold you. You burst
forth with new life, and you give me new life. I accept the gift you’ve
given me – help me never to take it for granted! We adore you, O
Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
redeemed the world. Amen.18

Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this

experience….

17
Jones, 144
18
Jones, 144
 Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his empty
tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will you
respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his
empty tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will
you respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
 Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his empty
tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will you
respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his
empty tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will
you respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
 Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his empty
tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will you
respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his
empty tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will
you respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
 Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his empty
tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will you
respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….
Date: ___/___/______
The Stations of the Cross
You have walked with Jesus from Pilate’s house, along the Via
Dolorosa, to the top of Mt. Calvary. You have seen him crucified,
dead, and laid in a tomb. And, finally, you have visited his
empty tomb, so you know that his victory is complete. How will
you respond to this ultimate gift given on your behalf?
Were you able to slow down and draw near to Jesus? Did God
speak to you or was it a time of quietness? What did He say?
Which Station of the Cross meant the most to you? Why?
Thoughts, ideas, prayers, etc. you want to remember from this
experience….